Why a Russian lab worker’s death worries experts

Plus: what to say when someone shows up sick, a grieving mother’s hope for healing, and more health news  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

Mandy Oaklander | October 07, 2026     This week, we’ve been following a concerning story out of Russia, where a 28-year-old employee of an anti-plague research institute contracted pneumonia and died. Local reports alleging that she contracted pneumonic plague from a broken test tube have sparked alarm about the pathogen responsible. There’s still a lot we don’t know. Today my colleagues Veronique Greenwood and Dominique Mosbergen asked researchers who work in public-health policy and infectious diseases what worries them about the situation. TODAY’S TOPICS What to say when someone shows up sick Growing support for Medicare for All A leading expert on preparedness and plague A grieving mother’s hope for healing         TIME TO TALK What to say when someone shows up sick Photo-Illustration by TIME (Source Image: Igor Suka—Getty Images) Your feverish colleague has plopped down beside you for a meeting. Or your dinner guest announces—right after hugging you—that they’ve felt terrible all day. Asking them to leave can feel rude, but it’s possible to say something tactfully. —Angela Haupt, Editor, Health & Wellness Give them a graceful way out At work, offer a concrete solution: “I’ll take notes and send them to you,” or “Would it help if I handled the client follow-up so you could head home?” If they insist they’re fine… You don’t have to win an argument about whether they’re contagious. Say: “I’m being extra careful right now, so I’m going to keep some distance.” Read the full story here.         SPONSORED Nvidia Is Worth Nearly 19 Times Every Silver Miner Combined The whole silver mining industry is valued at about $0.29 trillion. Nvidia alone is worth $5.41 trillion. That's why modest inflows can send silver stocks sharply higher. Our research team's free report explains how the silver market really moves, and where the opportunity is now. Read the Free Report         BIG NUMBER 66% The percentage of Americans who now support Medicare for All, according to the latest KFF Health Tracking Poll. The survey, which polled more than 1,300 Americans of any political affiliation who plan to vote in the midterms this fall, found that two thirds of U.S. adults now support the idea of single-payer health insurance, up from 53% who supported it in 2020. –Alana Semuels, Senior Correspondent         SPONSORED Your K-Cups Sat in a Warehouse for Months Grocery store pods spend months going factory → warehouse → truck → shelf, losing the flavor oils that make coffee taste like coffee. Angelino's roasts, packs, and ships within days — 50+ flavors, compatible with Keurig®, from 39¢ a cup. New customers save 15%, no code needed. Try Fresh-Roasted Pods         THE QUOTE THAT STUCK ❝   We are not nearly as ready as we need to be.   Dr. Ashish Jha, co-founder of BioRadar This week, Dr. Ashish Jha told me that the U.S. is unprepared for situations like Russia’s “plague” incident, which my colleague Veronique Greenwood and I wrote about today. Even if it doesn’t evolve into something more concerning, this incident reveals that we are ill-equipped for future outbreaks, no matter the pathogen. —D.M.         SPONSORED Is your company shaping the future? TIME100 Most Influential Companies 2027 entries are now open. Every year, TIME asks what it means for a company to be influential. Every year, the answer changes. With expanded recognition opportunities to celebrate influence across industries, impact initiatives, and, for the first time, workplace innovation, there are more ways than ever to stand out. Submit your company.          WHAT WE’RE READING Three years since the horrific Oct. 7 attack, Rachel Goldberg-Polin writes for TIME about the pain of losing her son, Hersh, and her hopes for healing. Voters trust Democrats over Republicans by a two-to-one margin regarding health care costs, according to a new KFF poll, Nathaniel Weixel reports for the Hill. Scammers are building fake health insurance websites ahead of open enrollment period, Jill Schlesinger reports for CBS News.       More Newsletters from Click to sign up. THE BRIEF +D.C. BRIEF +FUTURE PROOF +INSIDE TIME +IN THE LOOP +WORTH YOUR TIME + Subscribe to TIME Email us: healthmatters@time.com Received this from a friend? Sign up here Connect with TIME PRIVACY POLICY   © 2026 TIME USA, LLC. All rights reserved. TIME Customer Service, P.O. Box 37508 Boone, IA 50037-0508, United States Unsubscribe