Russian researcher's mystery death could be ‘far worse’ than the plague, former senior Trump official warns

What happened: A 28-year-old employee of the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Institute in Siberia died from pneumonia of undetermined origin. Former U.S. arms official Marshall Billingslea said the death could be "far worse" than plague, citing Soviet-era work on antibiotic-resistant plague at that facility. Key numbers: 28-year-old employee; about Why it matters: Biosecurity experts, including MIT's Kevin Esvelt, question why the cause remains unknown. The State Department says Russia maintains an offensive biological weapons program and is violating the BWC, though no link to this death is confirmed.

A 28-year-old employee of the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Institute in Siberia died from pneumonia of undetermined origin. Former U.S. arms official Marshall Billingslea said the death could be "far worse" than plague, citing Soviet-era work on antibiotic-resistant plague at that facility.

Biosecurity experts, including MIT's Kevin Esvelt, question why the cause remains unknown. The State Department says Russia maintains an offensive biological weapons program and is violating the BWC, though no link to this death is confirmed.