The State Department on Tuesday renewed its warning against all travel to Russia, citing reports of a suspected pneumonic plague case in Siberia and the U.S. government's limited ability to assist Americans in the country.
In a statement posted on X, the department said the U.S. Embassy was aware of press reports from the Irkutsk region of a suspected pneumonic plague infection that resulted in one death, along with quarantine measures and hospital closures in the area. The department added that it was closely monitoring the situation but stressed that U.S. citizens in Russia, especially outside Moscow, should not expect consular help.
“The State Department’s Level 4 Travel Advisory (Do Not Travel) for Russia remains in place and states U.S. citizens currently in Russia should depart immediately,” the department said.
The renewed advisory follows a White House statement on Monday expressing concern over the suspected outbreak. President Trump told reporters before leaving for Nebraska that he was “looking at it very strongly,” adding, “I hate to see them having it. It’s a rough disease. We used to be able to control, but somehow those microbes have gotten stronger and smarter.”
The suspected case involves a 28-year-old laboratory worker at a plague research institute in Irkutsk, who died over the weekend. Russian authorities have not confirmed the cause of death, with the country's consumer welfare service saying Sunday that she died of “pneumonia of unknown etiology,” according to NBC News.
Local media reports indicate that around 200 people in Siberia are under medical observation as a precaution. The State Department's advisory underscores the broader U.S.-Russia tensions that have limited diplomatic engagement and consular services, making it difficult for Americans to get assistance in emergencies.
The risk of pneumonic plague, which spreads through respiratory droplets, is considered low for the general public, but the U.S. advisory remains in place due to the combination of health risks and the volatile security environment in Russia.
This is not the first time the U.S. has issued a do-not-travel warning for Russia; the advisory has been in effect since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The latest development adds a public health dimension to an already fraught bilateral relationship, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio pressing Moscow for more details on the suspected case.
Americans currently in Russia are urged to leave immediately if they can do so safely. Those who remain should monitor local news and follow the guidance of Russian health authorities, though the U.S. government's ability to provide support is severely limited.
