US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Monday that an infection incident at a Russian biological research facility was no “cause for alarm,” confirming that American authorities are monitoring developments closely.

“I do not think it is cause for alarm, but it is cause for focus and a cause to just keep an eye on,” Rubio told reporters ahead of a diplomatic tour of Europe that includes stops in Iceland, Greece, and Portugal.

Rubio said Washington is relying on information provided by Moscow indicating that a research worker contracted an infection, prompting local authorities to introduce a quarantine to contain any potential transmission.

While noting that travel between the US and Russia remains heavily restricted, Rubio warned that pathogens escaping containment can spread rapidly, adding: “So we are watching and monitoring it closely.”The remarks followed reports that a female employee at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute died after being diagnosed with “pneumonia of unknown etiology,” Russian state news agency Tass reported.

Local reports alleged that the 28-year-old died following an accident, prompting hospital quarantines and mask requirements at a factory, though Russia’s consumer protection agency said the epidemiological situation remained stable. Safety of US diplomatic mission in Kyiv Addressing warnings from Moscow urging foreign missions to evacuate the Ukrainian capital, Rubio reaffirmed that the US Embassy in Kyiv remains operational, subject to daily security reviews.

Rubio said Russia’s warning was not groundbreaking given that Kyiv remains under attack, dismissing the latest warnings as a continuation of rhetoric Russian officials have repeated for months.

He emphasized that the administration evaluates the safety of diplomatic posts worldwide on a daily basis, saying Washington will adjust its posture if necessary but has not done so up to this point.