US President Donald Trump has said he is ready to help Russia fight plague, responding to a question about a suspected outbreak of the disease. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.

His words were cited by Clash Report. At the same time, Russian authorities have not confirmed the diagnosis of "plague."

"I'm very sorry that they're dealing with this. It's a serious disease. You know, we used to be able to handle it, but somehow these microbes have become stronger and smarter, just like a real army. And what used to help with pneumonia now doesn't work as well. So we'll help. Anyone who has a similar problem, we're always ready to help. We'll help Russia," Trump said.

What specific assistance measures he meant was not specified.

Earlier, Kursiv wrote that rumors of a possible plague outbreak appeared after the death of 28-year-old Darya Shipilova, an employee of the Irkutsk Research Anti-Plague Institute. A version spread on social media and in the press that she might have broken a test tube containing the pathogen.

Rospotrebnadzor did not confirm this version. According to official data, the employee was diagnosed with pneumonia of unspecified etiology. Studies did not reveal microorganisms associated with her professional activity, and no accidents during work with pathogens were recorded at the institute.

About 200 people who had contact with the employee are under medical observation. According to the governor of the Irkutsk region, no signs of a particularly dangerous infection were found in them.

The Kremlin urged people to rely on official information.

"The lead agency competent in this area is Rospotrebnadzor. And it is precisely on the official statements of Rospotrebnadzor that one should rely, not listening to various rumors and various speculations," said Dmitry Peskov, press secretary of the Russian president, at a briefing on October 5.

In Kazakhstan, the Center for Combating Disinformation warned about attempts to link a fire at the Masgut Aikimbayev National Scientific Center for Especially Dangerous Infections in Almaty to rumors about plague in Russia. The fire occurred on September 21. The center called attempts to link these events manipulative.