Kenya health officials have reported a new case of Ebola, bringing the total number of confirmed infections to eight.

All the cases appear to be linked to the original patient, a Kenyan man who had been living in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and traveled to Nairobi. That man subsequently died on Oct. 5, according to authorities.

Officials said on Sunday that the latest confirmed case is a 49-year-old patient attendant who was already in quarantine.

The other six cases that have been detected are in isolation and there is currently no sign of community spread, according to Kenya's Ministry of Health. The risk to the public remains low, it noted.

Over the weekend, the Office of the Director General for Health in Kenya issued a press release stating that of 130 contacts of the original patient who have been identified, 128 have been traced and are in quarantine.

"Intensive efforts are ongoing to trace and quarantine the two remaining contacts," the press release said. "In addition, new cases among quarantined contacts are possible until their 21[-day] monitoring period ends."

Aden Duale, Kenya's cabinet secretary of health, said earlier this month that the patient who was Kenya's first Ebola case had been living in the DRC for the last seven years.

The Ministry of Health told ABC News at the time that the patient was 40 years old and traveled from Buta, a city in the northwestern DRC.

Duale said the patient fell ill about a month ago and was treated in several hospitals while in the DRC. He traveled from the DRC to Kampala, the capital of neighboring Uganda, by road, then boarded a Jambo Jet flight, arriving in Kenya's capital Nairobi on Saturday, Oct. 3.

Duale said the patient had symptoms including fever, chills, fatigue, weakness, muscle pain, sore throat and painful swallowing. Doctors collected a sample from the patient, which was positive for Ebola and specifically Bundibugyo virus, a rare variant of Ebola behind the current DRC outbreak for which there are no vaccines and no treatments.

The patient was given supportive treatment but died on Monday, Oct. 5, according to Duale.

Dr. Patrick Amoth, Kenya's director general for health, said during the briefing that officials believe the patient knew he was ill and reached out to friends and relatives to transport him from the airport to the hospital directly.

In a press release on Monday, the humanitarian NGO International Rescue Committee (IRC) said it is ramping up its Ebola response in Kenya, partnering with the country's Ministry of Health to support screenings at airports and border crossings, as well as provide personal protective equipment to clinics and hospitals.

'Kenya has a chance to stay ahead of an Ebola outbreak in the country," Irene Bosire, IRC deputy director of programs in Kenya, said in a statement. "We must act fast, stopping any potential spread here and at its source in eastern DRC."

It comes as the nearby DRC continues to experience its worst Ebola outbreak on record. As of Oct. 12, 9,144 cases of Ebola and 4,410 deaths have been confirmed, according to the Congo Ministry of Health, with 899 patients in isolation or hospitalized.

The case fatality rate currently stands at 48.2% while contact tracing stands at 77.6%, an improvement from the earlier days of the outbreak.

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LONDON -- Russian missiles and drones targeted Ukraine overnight, striking civilian infrastructure along with energy facilities, knocking out power for some 550,000 families, Ukrainian officials said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said there was "no early warning from our partners" that the missile attack was imminent.

Moscow launched at least 16 ballistic missiles at the capital region, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense said in a statement. Russia also fired some 200 drones, "including jet-powered Shaheds," at targets across Ukraine, the ministry said.

"Energy facilities were the main target, but a clinic, a school, a metro station and homes were also hit," the ministry said. "There are casualties."

The attacks targeted the Kyiv region, along with several others, including Kharkiv and Dnipro, Zelenskyy said. More than 10 energy infrastructure facilities were damaged, he said, adding that repair crews had been dispatched to the sites.

Russia's Ministry of Defense said the military's "massive" overnight strike targeted sites associated with the Ukrainian defense industry, saying it had hit "facilities storing cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles" and a data center in the Kyiv region.

The Russian attack on energy sites follows a massive Ukrainian attack over the weekend, which similarly targeted energy and oil and gas infrastructure in Russia.

Russia's Ministry of Defense said early on Sunday that it had shot down some 1,015 drones near Moscow and several other western regions, making the attack one of the largest of the war.

Drones struck a major oil terminal in St. Petersburg, along with other targets throughout western Russia, officials in Moscow said on Sunday.

Russia has continued to heavily target Ukraine's energy infrastructure without pause despite Trump’s declaring the two sides had agreed to the "ceasefire" last weekend.

Zelenskyy on Monday said Putin's Russia was the driving force behind the war, not Ukraine. As ceasefire proposals have periodically been presented, Kyiv has been receptive to negotiations for each one, Zelenskyy said, but "Russia's response, time and again, has been ballistic missiles, 'shaheds,' and killings."

"Putin not only doesn't want to end this war -- he doesn't even want to take any steps toward de-escalation," Zelenskyy said. "EVERY ONE of our partners has experienced this firsthand when they heard Russia's refusals. And it is crucial to call things what they are. To call the aggressor an aggressor and help Ukraine defend lives."

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Multiple people were killed and dozens more were injured when an explosion erupted at a Canadian military base, according to authorities.

The deadly blast occurred on Saturday afternoon at the Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Wainwright in Alberta province, igniting a massive fire that was fanned by high winds and spread from the sprawling military facility into the surrounding rural area, Canadian officials said.

During a news conference on Sunday, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said at least four service members were killed in the blast and subsequent "violent fire," and that "dozens more are seriously wounded."

Carney called the incident "one of the worst tragedies for the forces on Canadian soil in peacetime."

The four service members were identified as Sergeant Morgan Wong, Private Shaun Farrell, Private Aidan Goulding and Private Hayden Lykkemark, according to a press release from the Canadian government.

In addition to those killed, 39 Canadian Armed Forces members sustained injuries, according to the release.

"I cannot recall an incident like this in recent memory," Canadian Minister of National Defense David McGuinty said during a news conference on Saturday night at the military base near the small town of Wainwright.

The cause of the explosion is under investigation, military officials said. Asked to provide details, McGuinty would only say that "this is a very, very active and delicate situation."

In a statement on Sunday, the Canadian Department of National Defense said, "There are no indications that it was the result of any terrorist activity."

Multiple Canadian Armed Forces sources told CGTV's Global News that the incident occurred during a live-fire training exercise, and that a gas line or a gas well was struck and ignited the explosion.

A fire erupted within the training area of the military base around 4 p.m. local time on Saturday, officials said.

"The fire spread rapidly beyond the boundaries of the training area, while military and civilian emergency services responded quickly to control that fire and to support those affected by this tragic event," the Canadian government said in a statement Sunday morning.

Carney said his office is gathering information on the "serious incident that triggered a large-scale fire" at a military base.

"Our thoughts are with all the brave women and men affected," Carney said in a social media post.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said in a social media post that the "significant and tragic" incident is affecting many military personnel.

Neither Carney nor Smith provided details about what caused the fire.

Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragon, chair of the NATO Military Committee, also addressed the incident in a social media post on Sunday, saying, "Canada does not carry this grief alone. All 32 Allied Chiefs of Defense stand with you and the Canadian Armed Forces."

"Wainwright is where Canadian soldiers, and so many Allies with them, train for the hardest tasks of our profession," Dragon said. "Those who fell there served our common security, and the Military Committee will honor their memory."

One of Canada's largest and busiest military training bases, CFB Wainwright is where soldiers train for combat operations, military officials said. The base is home to the Canadian Manoeuvre Training Center, which conducts realistic battlefield exercises.

ABC News' Chris Barry, Matthew Holroyd and Michael O'Keefe contributed to this report.

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Pope Leo XIV will recite the Angelus prayer in public on Sunday, the Vatican said in an update on Friday.

The Vatican did not say where the pontiff would speak on Sunday.

Asked whether the pope could be discharged from the hospital and return to the Vatican on Saturday, a spokesperson said doctors had established a time frame for his hospital stay.

"If that changes, they will communicate the change; we will let you know," the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson also said the pope's mood was good, and confirmed that he had received letters and drawings from children.

"We sent the letters and drawings," the spokesperson said, adding that Leo had been able to celebrate Mass and give Communion.

Pope Leo XIV resumed work activities on Thursday, just days after undergoing an operation, the Vatican said Thursday.

The pope was diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma, which is the most common subtype of non-small cell lung cancer, accounting for roughly 40% of all lung cancer cases, according to the Lung Cancer Foundation of America.

Lung adenocarcinoma begins in cells in the lung that make mucus, called epithelial cells, which line the surface of the lungs, the American Cancer Society says.

Leo was in the operating room for about three hours, with the surgery itself lasting approximately 90 minutes, according to doctors.

The surgery was described as "successful" with no complications.

The Vatican previously said that his recovery at Rome's Agostino Gemelli University Hospital was expected to last about a week.

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LONDON -- Russia targeted Ukraine with a "massive" aerial attack, including waves of drones, launching so many of them that "there was not a single hour when our skies were clear" for most of Wednesday and into Thursday morning, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

Hundreds of attack drones were fired between midnight and 9 a.m. local time on Thursday, the president said.

"It is obvious that Russia deliberately chose to escalate its attacks after receiving sanctions relief and seeing attempts to pressure Ukraine," Zelenskyy said. "Russia exploits every such opportunity and must be held accountable for what it does."

The overnight attack followed Ukrainian officials saying this week that the U.S. government-owned Starshield satellite infrastructure used by Ukraine's military for drone navigation and air defense was not operating at its normal functionality.

Those systems are used in part for early warnings when Russia launches a projectile.

"Strong decisions are needed to end this war. Ukraine needs steady support, above all in defending our skies," Zelenskyy said on Thursday. "We need HONESTY from our partners about this war: It is important that everyone in America stand not with the aggressor, but with our efforts to protect lives, end this war, and guarantee security."

President Donald Trump had said in a statement on Sunday that both sides had agreed to an "energy ceasefire." Russia in the following days continued striking energy infrastructure throughout Ukraine, according to Kyiv.

Russia's Ministery of Defense on Thursday said Ukraine had also resumed its strikes on energy infrastructure, saying that Kyiv had overnight "attempted a massive attack on the oil refinery in Ryazan."

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Pope Leo XIV's recovery is "proceeding as expected" following his surgery on Tuesday, the Vatican said.

The pope underwent blood tests and a chest X-ray following surgery and "the results confirm a normal postoperative course: the values are within the normal range for the type of surgery performed," according to the Vatican.

Leo had respiratory physical therapy and was eating regularly, the Vatican said, adding that his recovery "is proceeding as expected."

Earlier on Wednesday, the Vatican press office said the pope had a "peaceful" night in the hospital following surgery.

The pontiff was diagnosed with lung cancer and underwent surgery to have the lower lobe of his right lung removed, the Vatican said on Tuesday.

Dr. Luigi Carbone and professor Stefano Margaritora said the pontiff underwent a minimally invasive camera-guided surgical procedure, according to the Vatican.

"The intraoperative histological examination confirmed the diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma, as suspected by the preoperative tests," the Vatican said.

Leo was in the operating room for about three hours, which included about 90 minutes for the "successful" surgery, the Vatican said.

He's recovering at Gemelli Hospital, the largest hospital in Rome and the primary medical facility used by popes, including Leo's immediate predecessor, Pope Francis, who died in 2025 at the age of 88.

Leo, a Chicago native and the first American pope, who was previously Cardinal Robert Prevost, was elected the church's 267th pontiff in May 2025.

Cardinal Blase J. Cupich of Chicago said in a statement that the pope's diagnosis was "not the news we hoped for," but added that he and his archdiocese were "heartened by the skill and optimism of his physicians and the countless prayers offered around the world for his complete recovery."

"I ask that the people of good will everywhere, but particularly here, in Pope Leo’s hometown join me in asking the Lord to return this son of Chicago to wellness," Cupich said. "He has much more good work to do, many more wise words to preach and many more ways to inspire others."

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LONDON -- At least 600,000 people were without power early Wednesday in Ukraine, after Russia launched an aerial attack that struck energy infrastructure, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

"A targeted Russian ballistic missile strike specifically against energy infrastructure -- the very infrastructure covered by the ceasefire announced by the American President," the Ukrainian president said on social media.

President Donald Trump said on Sunday that both sides had agreed to an "energy ceasefire."

The outages on Wednesday may become more widespread, the president said, as there is "significant" damage to at least 26 power facilities and four others in the gas and oil sector.

The attack included some 39 ballistic missiles and more than 120 drones, officials said, with many targeted Kyiv and its surrounding area.

Russia's Ministry of Defense said in it carried out a "massive strike by ground-launched high-precision weapons and long-range drones against communication and energy infrastructure facilities" in Kyiv and Kharkiv.

Katarina Mathernova, the European Union's ambassador to Ukraine, said more than a dozen explosions were heard before dawn in the Kyiv.

"A nine-storey apartment building was hit in the capital. Fire spread through people’s homes," Mathernova said early on Wednesday. "Rescuers helped residents down ladders while others stood outside, watching their building burn."

Mathernova and Ukrainian officials said an early warning system, which detects aerial attacks and allows for better defense, appeared to not have worked for a second night in a row.

"That missing warning means missing time," Mathernova said. "Time to wake a child. To get downstairs. To reach a shelter."

Kyiv's mayor, Vitali Klitschko, described the overnight strike on Kyiv as "massive," saying at least one person had been killed in the capital.

Ukrainian also struck Russian military overnight, according to the Ukrainian General Staff, which said it targeted sites that Russia was known to use to launch drones.

"In the area of Donetsk, a site used by the enemy for the storage, preparation and launch of attack UAVs was hit," Ukraine said. "Systematic strikes against such sites are aimed at reducing the russian aggressor’s ability to strike civilian infrastructure across Ukraine."

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Pope Leo XIV departed the Vatican on Tuesday for a hospital in Rome, where he's scheduled to undergo an operation to remove a nodule from his lung.

"As announced, Pope Leo XIV has been admitted to the Agostino Gemelli University Hospital," the Vatican press office said in a statement. "This afternoon, he will undergo surgery for a lung nodule performed by the thoracic surgery team led by Professor Stefano Margaritora."

The Vatican said additional information would be provided on Tuesday evening.

Video posted by Vatican News on Tuesday featured Pope Leo arriving at the hospital, shaking hands and greeting staff.

The pontiff said on Sunday he would undergo surgery for a nodule found on his lung, adding that operation was to take place in the "next few days." His recovery at the hospital in Rome was expected to last about a week, the Vatican said.

A lung nodule, also known as a pulmonary nodule, is a small mass of dense tissue on the lung, according to the American Lung Association (ALA). Leo on Sunday said the nodule was discovered by doctors in "a very initial phase" and that it was "well localized."

"The doctors think it is opportune to intervene," the 71-year-old said.

Nodules can be caused by a variety of factors including scar tissue, lung irritants, inflammatory conditions, current or past infections, or cancer. Most nodules are benign, according to the ALA. They are diagnosed with imaging tests including an X-ray or a CT scan.

Depending on the size, appearance, growth and cause of nodules, they can be either be monitored regularly by a physician or treated with medication or surgery.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's secretary of State, said that as he listened to Leo's announcement on Sunday, he was "struck by his serenity" according to Vatican media.

"We are confident," he reportedly said. "And of course we all accompany him with our prayers and our affection.”

Gemelli Hospital, which is formally the Policlinico Universitario Fondazione Agostino Gemelli, is the largest hospital in Rome.

It's the primary medical facility commonly used by popes, including Leo's immediate predecessor, Pope Francis, who died in 2025 at the age of 88.

Leo, a Chicago native and the first American pope who was previously Cardinal Robert Prevost, was elected the church's 267th pontiff in May 2025.

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Pope Leo XIV will be admitted to a hospital in Rome on Tuesday morning, the Vatican said on Monday, a day after the pontiff said he would undergo surgery for a nodule found on his lung.

The operation was to take place in the "next few days," Leo said on Sunday.

Pope Leo addressed the planned surgery in a statement on social media Sunday morning.

"The doctors believe that it is best to intervene, so, following their advice, I have decided to undergo surgery to remove it," the pope said. "The operation is already scheduled to take place in the coming days. I thank you for your spiritual closeness and entrust myself to your prayers."

A lung nodule, also known as a pulmonary nodule, is a small mass of dense tissue on the lung, according to the American Lung Association (ALA).

Nodules can be caused by a variety of factors including scar tissue, lung irritants, inflammatory conditions, current or past infections, or cancer. Most nodules are benign, according to the ALA. They are diagnosed with imaging tests including an X-ray or a CT scan.

Depending on the size, appearance, growth and cause of nodules, they can be either be monitored regularly by a physician or treated with medication or surgery.

It is unclear which scans the pope underwent.

Dr. Samuel Kim, a professor of surgery at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago, told ABC News owned station WLS that he is optimistic about the pope's health.

"Even at an advanced age, I know the pope is in his 70s, but he's in very good health and active," Kim said. "The pope should be able to have the operation pretty well and recover. So, I'm very optimistic about the prognosis for our pope."

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LONDON -- A "violent" fire ripped through the Enfants Rouges market in Paris early on Monday, engulfing the 17th-century building and destroying it, officials said.

The market of the Red Children in the city's 3rd arrondissement was the oldest covered food market in the city. The Paris Fire Brigade fought the fire, but the building was "alas ravaged by flames early this morning," Ariel Weil, the mayor of central Paris, said on Monday.

"Fire brought under control but market totally devastated," he added. "Avoid the area around Rue de Bretagne."

Firefighters began battling the "violent" blaze at about 4:15 a.m., an hour or so after the fire started, fire officials said.

"Despite the rapid intervention of emergency services, the fire completely engulfed the 1,000 [square meters] occupied by the covered market," the brigade said. "Nine hoses, including 2 high-powered ones, were required to bring the disaster under control."

The market was established in 1615, according to Le Monde, which reported that the name came from the red outfits worn by orphans housed at a nearby hospital, which closed in 1772. The market was listed as a historical monument in 1982.

ABC News' Joe Simonetti contributed to this report.

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LONDON and TOKYO -- North Korea test-fired on Monday at least two suspected ballistic missiles, both of which fell into the sea to the country's east, Japanese officials said.

"Earlier today, sometime after 9 a.m., North Korea launched at least two ballistic missiles from its interior toward the northeast and east; the missiles are estimated to have landed near North Korea's east coast and in the Sea of ​​Japan," Japan's Ministry of Defense said in a statement.

Pyongyang has since the beginning of the year conducted at least 11 test-launches of some 18 ballistic missiles and other projectiles, "which already exceeds last year's number of launches by more than double and the number of projectiles by about triple," Takashi Koyari, Japan's vice minister of defence for policy, told reporters during a press conference on Monday.

The first launch on Monday came at about 9:19 a.m. local time, the ministry said. That missile climbed to about 20 km, or about 12 miles, in altitude and flew a distance of about 220 km, or about 142 miles, the ministry said.

The second was launched at about 9:36 a.m. and climbed higher, to about 70 km, or about 43 miles, and flew farther than 910 km, or about 565 miles, the ministry said.

"Regarding the second missile, Japan, the United States, and South Korea are currently conducting a detailed joint analysis, including the possibility that it flew on an irregular trajectory," the ministry said.

The launches on Monday were the first to be reported since Oct. 3, when another ballistic missile was fired into the sea, according to South Korea's military.

There were no immediate reports of damage from the test-launches, Koyari said, but the "actions by North Korea threatens the peace and security of our country, the region, and the international community."

"Regarding this launch, we have lodged a stern protest and strong condemnation with North Korea through our embassy channel in Beijing," Koyari said.

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Russia has attacked a power plant in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv despite President Donald Trump’s statement earlier Sunday that both sides had agreed to an "energy ceasefire," according to Ukrainian officials.

A local official told ABC News the thermal power plant CHP-5 was struck at least twice, causing a fire. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a statement confirmed Russia had attacked the plant, as well as another in Kyiv, saying it had taken place after Trump's announcement.

Announcing the energy ceasefire earlier on social media, Trump said both Russia and Ukraine had agreed and that it would immediately come into effect, but Zelenskyy has said Ukraine was caught off guard by the announcement. Russia has yet to comment.

“Effective immediately, there is an ENERGY CEASEFIRE in the War between Russia and Ukraine. Both parties have agreed. Do not break it!” Trump's post said.

Zelenskyy was surprised by Trump's announcement and only learned about it from social media, a senior source in Ukraine's presidential office told ABC News. Ukraine, however, was ready to accept it immediately if Russia agrees, Zelenskyy said.

Shortly before Trump’s declaration, Zelenskyy told Jon Karl on "This Week" that Ukraine wanted an immediate "energy ceasefire" that would see it stop striking Russian oil refineries provided the Kremlin halted attacks on Ukraine’s power infrastructure.

Zelenskyy, in his evening address, said Ukraine is "ready not to strike at Russian energy, and we are counting on Russia’s similar readiness."

"Ukraine has proposed many de-escalation steps," Zelenskyy said. "Ukraine wants peace. The question is whether Russia wants it."

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ROME and LONDON -- Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to undergo surgery in the "next few days" after doctors found a nodule on his lung, he said on Sunday.

"Recently during some check ups doctors found a circumscribed nodule in my lung," the pontiff, 71, said during an appearance at the window of the Vatican's Apostolic Palace, overlooking a sunny St. Peter’s Square. "It was found in a very initial phase and well localized. The doctors think it is opportune to intervene."

The Vatican press office said in a statement shortly afterward that the procedure was scheduled for "early" this week, adding that the "expected length of the postoperative hospital stay is about one week."

The pope is scheduled to be operated on in Rome's Gemelli Hospital, the primary medical facility commonly used by popes, including Leo's immediate predecessor, Pope Francis, who died in 2025 at the age of 88.

Leo, a Chicago native and the first American pope, who was previously Cardinal Robert Prevost, was elected the church's 267th pontiff in May 2025.

Before Leo announced on Sunday that he will be operated on, and while greeting the groups present in the square, he greeted a Peruvian Catholic group and said, "Thank you for your prayer for my apostolic visit that I will make to Peru."

Leo is officially scheduled to make a trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru between Nov. 6 and 17. His remark on Sunday appeared to indicate he still intended to travel to those countries.

Giorgia Meloni, the Italian prime minister, said in a statement in Italian that she and her government were expressing solidarity "with the Holy Father as he faces the ordeal ahead in the coming days."

"The serenity and calm with which he spoke about it during today's Angelus are a source of comfort to us," Meloni said. "I am certain that the Italian people, too, will not fail to offer their support and affection."

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LONDON and LVIV, Ukraine -- At least 35 people were killed and over 30 others were injured across Ukraine in Russian attacks on the country overnight and into Thursday morning, according to Ukrainian authorities. 

In a single strike on a passenger bus in Kramatorsk, in the Donetsk region, at least 30 people were killed and 18 were injured, according to a statement released by the city council on Thursday.

"Once again, the Russians have struck a location where there is absolutely no military target," the city council said. "A passenger bus. A civilian vehicle. People simply going about their daily business."

Public transport in Kramatorsk has been suspended, the statement added.

The killings overnight brought the death toll from Russian attacks across Ukraine over the past 48 hours to at least 60, following a deadly Wednesday in which at least 25 people were killed in strikes across the country, including 22 in an attack on a residential building in Pryluky.

At least four of the victims in Pryluky were children, officials said.

"Even after such a brutal attack, the Russians continued striking our regions," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Thursday. "This morning, Russia hit an ordinary public transport stop in Kramatorsk with an aerial bomb."

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LONDON -- Russia targeted Ukraine overnight with dozens of missiles and drones in a "vile" and deadly attack aimed at both energy infrastructure and residential buildings throughout at least 12 regions, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Wednesday.

Russia in total fired some 70 missiles, "many" of which were ballistic, along with attack drones, Zelenskyy said.

"One of the key targets was our energy infrastructure," he added "The Russians wanted to strike painfully and demonstratively."

Russia's Ministry of Defense said it had launched a "massive strike" overnight targeting Ukraine's defense industries in Kyiv and other cities.

Five people were killed and another 26 were injured, including five children, as Russia hit an "ordinary" five-story apartment building in Pryluky, in the Chernihiv region, the president said in a statement.

"First responders are working nonstop at the site -- doing everything possible to find every person," Zelenskyy said.

Another two people were injured as missiles hit high-rises in Kremenchuk and apartment buildings in Dnipro, he said. Another two were killed in Kyiv and two others in Oleksandriya, he said.

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The U.S. issued a formal diplomatic complaint known as a démarche over the Russian government's response to the reported death of a lab worker from an anti-plague institute in Siberia, urging the country to increase transparency surrounding the incident, ABC News has learned.

"We have officially requested additional information from the Russian government. We are also in official communication with other countries around the world to share information," a State Department spokesperson said.

A U.S. official said early Wednesday that the démarche was transmitted to representatives of the Russian government within the last few hours. The démarche itself is classified, but the official said it reminds Moscow of its requirements to comply with international health regulations.

The action came ahead of what President Donald Trump said was a scheduled call between him and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin. Trump on Tuesday told reporters at the White House that the call had been scheduled and would happen "very soon," adding that it would be "probably tomorrow."

Trump said their conversation was expected to touch on the heightened scrutiny of Russia's response after some Russian media and public figures reported a death potentially connected to the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Institute.

Russian authorities have said only that that the case of the lab worker’s reported death was "pneumonia of an unknown cause," with the health agency Rospotrebnadzor saying tests showed no link with her work. They issued a statement saying that "no accidents have been detected at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Institute while working with pathogenic microorganisms."

Rospotrebnadzor's office for the Irkutsk region issued on Tuesday a statement, saying, "A false message is being circulated online about the introduction of an enhanced sanitary and epidemiological regime and strict restrictions in the Irkutsk region."

The U.S. Embassy in Moscow said in a Tuesday health alert that it was aware of the press reports, saying, "We continue to track the situation closely." The State Department reminded Americans not to travel to Russia, saying the U.S. government has limited ability to help its citizens who go there. Additional restrictions may be in place for some regions, the embassy said.

Presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Wednesday that official information would come directly from Rospotrebnadzor, adding, "the media are reporting a great deal right now, and the overwhelming majority of what the media are reporting around this situation is false information."

As Russian officials came under scrutiny, U.S. officials offered to provide assistance. Trump said the U.S. was willing to help Russia after the U.S. State Department announced it was monitoring the reportedly fatal case of "pneumonia of an unknown etiology."

"Anybody that has that kind of a problem, we're always willing to help," Trump told reporters Monday.

Asked about how the U.S. is planning to mitigate the risk coming from Russia, Trump said that his administration is "looking at it very strongly."

Russia said it would welcome help from the United States, but also sought to downplay concern.

"It is always very good when mutual assistance is offered," Peskov told journalists on Monday. Peskov then appeared to downplay Trump’s suggestion the issue was a “major problem for Russia,” telling a journalist he had not heard that framing.

"To be honest, I did not hear the president’s words that he considers this a major problem for Russia," Peskov said. "As far as I remember it was not said that way, although I may be mistaken."

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, asked Tuesday in Iceland by ABC News whether he had reason to believe there has been an accidental release of an intentionally modified strain of the plague, said it would "irresponsible for me here to sit and speculate because we just don't have all the information yet."

"I think it's incumbent upon Russia to obviously share more information with the world. That's what they should do," the secretary said.

Rubio said his department was tracking the situation "hour by hour."

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The Kremlin on Monday said it welcomed President Donald Trump’s offer to provide assistance to Russia amid mounting global concern around the death of a lab worker from an anti-plague institute in Siberia, but gave no more details about the case.

“It is always very good when mutual assistance is offered,” presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov told journalists.

Peskov appeared to downplay Trump’s suggestion the issue was a “major problem for Russia,” telling a journalist he had not heard that framing.

“To be honest, I did not hear the president’s words that he considers this a major problem for Russia. As far as I remember it was not said that way, although I may be mistaken,” Peskov responded.

He declined to give any further details on the suspected pneumonic plague case, saying all information should come from Russia’s consumer health agency, Rospotrebnadzor.

Meanwhile, Elena Sofyina, Deputy Mayor of the Shelekhov for Social Sector Management, commented on Donald Trump’s statement about his readiness to provide assistance.

“Information has emerged that Donald Trump is ready to help us deal with the pneumonia situation in the district. I believe it’s necessary to respond directly. We can handle it ourselves," Sofyina said.

"The situation is under full control. Rospotrebnadzor, the regional team, and the administration of the Shelekhovsky District are working together. The dangerous diagnosis has not been confirmed, but we are still following all the protocol measures,” Sofyina added.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, asked in Iceland by ABC News whether he had reason to believe there has been an accidental release of an intentionally modified strain of the plague, said it would "irresponsible for me here to sit and speculate because we just don't have all the information yet."

"I think it's incumbent upon Russia to obviously share more information with the world. That's what they should do," the secretary said.

Rubio said his department was tracking the situation "hour by hour."

"Suffice it to say, we're watching it very closely, and I think the whole world is watching it very closely because, depending on what we learn about it, we would know how to respond," Rubio said.

"We encourage Russia to be transparent and share more information with the world, so that all of us could react accordingly and appropriately. But we'll have to make those decisions on the basis of the information that we're learning and are being provided. And so far, that's still quite limited. But hopefully, that will change in the next few hours and days," he added.

A State Department official on Tuesday confirmed the U.S. has made contact with the Russian government over a suspected plague death in Siberia. 

“We have been in contact with the Russian government, including our health experts at the State Department with the Foreign Ministry as early as last Friday,” the official said.

Health authorities in the Siberia region of Irkutsk last week launched "anti-epidemic" measures after a lab worker from an anti-plague institute died in hospital. Local Russian media have named the worker as 28-year-old Daria Shipilova, who studied plague at the Anti-Plague Research Institute in the town of Shelekhov, just outside Irkutsk, which is about 2,600 miles from Moscow.

Russian authorities have said only that that the case of the lab worker’s death was “pneumonia of an unknown cause,” with the health agency Rospotrebnadzor saying tests showed no link with her work.

But on Tuesday, Rospotrebnadzor's office for the Irkutsk region issued a statement, saying "A false message is being circulated online about the introduction of an enhanced sanitary and epidemiological regime and strict restrictions in the Irkutsk region."

"We inform you that the said document and information are not related to official sources and are unreliable,” the statement said.

“The sanitary and epidemiological situation in the Irkutsk region and the cities of Irkutsk and Shelekhov is stable. A set of preventive measures and medical monitoring of contacts is nearing completion. Laboratory tests identified two cases of COVID-19 and two cases of rhinovirus infection. No other infectious disease pathogens were detected among the contacts,” the statement further said.

The statement came after some Russian media and public figures reported a death potentially due to plague and linked to a lab worker. Russian officials did not provide further details about the worker. The Russian agency's statement said that "no accidents have been detected at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Institute while working with pathogenic microorganisms."

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in a statement Sunday that it is "monitoring the situation closely" with the State Department, adding "the safety and security of U.S. citizens is our highest priority."

"Many details have not been confirmed. We encourage Russian authorities to share accurate information quickly and openly," a State Department spokesperson said in a statement. "Plague is a known disease and is treatable with common antibiotics, especially when treatment starts early. Cases occur naturally in many parts of the world."

On Tuesday, the CDC said in a statement, in part, that "at this time, there is no indication of a broader threat to the United States, but CDC and our interagency partners are prepared and will continue to monitor the situation closely."

Plague is a disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, according to the CDC. There are three types of plague: bubonic, pneumonic and septicemic. Symptoms often include fever, chills and weakness. Plague can be treated with antibiotics. The earlier antibiotics are received, the higher the chances of a full recovery.

The U.S. averages about seven cases of plague each year, mostly in Western states, according to the CDC, which notes it has been more than a century since the U.S. has seen a documented case of person-to-person spread of plague.

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LONDON -- A 22-year-old British national was arrested on Tuesday morning in central London as part of an investigation by Counter Terrorism Policing into the potential plot last month near RAF Fairford, a military base that at the time hosted U.S. bombers.

The man arrested on Tuesday morning was detained on suspicion of preparation of terrorist acts, Counter Terrorism Policing said in a press release.

"This remains a live investigation and our specialist teams continue to pursue multiple lines of enquiry into the circumstances surrounding events near RAF Fairford," Vicki Evans, the senior national coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing, said in a statement.

The arrest, which came as public interest in the investigation remained high, coincided with the search of a property nearby in Westminster, police said.

"We’re acutely aware of the public interest in this investigation, and we are working around the clock, and at pace, to identify the motivation behind events in Gloucestershire," Evans said on Tuesday. "We remain committed to investigating all possible angles."

Five men in their twenties were arrested in late September in a town near the base on suspicion of terrorism and explosives offenses, officials said. They were later released on bail, but were subject to "stringent conditions on their movement and contact with others," Laurence Taylor, head of National Counter Terrorism Policing, said at the time.

A sixth man, a 25-year-old dual U.K.-Iranian national, was later arrested and also released on bail, officials said.

The U.S. this week said it had pulled its heavy bombers from the air base, which had been used to launch strikes against Iran. President Donald Trump said Monday that the move was prompted by a direct threat to the installation as authorities investigate a suspected plot to attack it.

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(WASHINGTON) -- The United States removed its heavy bombers from a base in the United Kingdom it had used to launch strikes on Iran, amid an investigation into a suspected plot to attack the base.

At least a dozen planes, including B-1 bombers, were redeployed to the United States from Royal Air Force Fairford, according to the Pentagon, which did not specify when or why the planes departed.

"While operational security precluded us from confirming the movement of our assets and forces in real-time, we can acknowledge now that all U.S. bombers that were deployed to RAF Fairford have re-deployed to their home stations in the United States," a Defense Department official said in a statement on Sunday.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Monday morning that the aircraft redeployment reflects a "regular rotation" and that he "wouldn't directly tie" the suspected plot regarding RAF Fairford to the action.

"[I]t's not unusual to see rotations happen and movement of assets to different parts of the world based on exercises, redeployments, people changing out and new people coming in, new planes coming in, old planes going out," Rubio said.

The Pentagon's statement on the departure came after five men were arrested last month on terror charges near RAF Fairford.

They were arrested in possession of three vans in the village of Whelford, which is about 2 miles from the base, which hosts the U.S. Air Force and has since February been serving as a key hub for American operations against Iran -- including for heavy bombers like the B-1.

The five were later released on bail after "extensive interviews," authorities said.

The suspects, who have not been charged, "remain under investigation as we explore multiple lines of enquiry,"  Laurence Taylor, head of National Counter Terrorism Policing in the United Kingdom, said on Sept. 28.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham told the BBC News in late September that there were "strong indications" that Iran "played a part in what happened." 

The Department of Defense said in its Sunday statement that the "U.S. Air Force bombers routinely operate around the world to support global force readiness and operational requirements."

"The Airmen that operate America’s bomber force, including B-1s, B-2s, and B-52s, remain ready to deliver precision global strike capabilities – including through operations that launch and recover from the continental United States – anywhere, anytime," the statement said.

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(WASHINGTON) -- The alleged attacker on the FlyDubai flight to Israel was intending to crash the plane into Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport, according to two senior U.S. officials and an Israeli source familiar with the investigation. 

As ABC News has previously reported, Hamam Al-Hammani, an Omani national, had been flagged by Oman Air as a security risk and was suspended as a trainee copilot for that airline in 2024 for possessing extremist materials, according to senior intelligence and law enforcement officials, raising questions about how he was hired at FlyDubai.

Officials investigating the incident are still trying to determine how the suspected attacker was subsequently permitted to fly for FlyDubai and how he ended up as the first officer in the cockpit of a plane headed for Israel, the sources said.

"We recognize that there are many questions at this stage; however, the circumstances surrounding the incident are still under investigation," FlyDubai said in a statement to ABC News on Saturday. 

"We are therefore not in a position to comment further beyond our published statements. We remain fully committed to supporting the ongoing investigation and are in close coordination with the relevant government authorities and regulators."

FlyDubai issued a statement earlier Friday, attributed to its chief executive officer, saying that, at the request of the authorities, FlyDubai had "temporarily suspended operations to Tel Aviv until further notice," and saying "a full official investigation, led by the relevant authorities and fully supported by FlyDubai, is underway." 

A disaster was averted when the flight's captain, Smit Machchhar, fought back and a number of passengers subdued and restrained the attacker, who plunged the plane thousands of feet in an apparent attempt to crash it, in what Israeli officials are saying was an act of terror.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the intention was to "crash the plane, killing everyone on board" Flight 1073 from Dubai.

A passenger, Yaniv Hayun, was able to drag the suspect from the cockpit, take control of the plane and level it before a third pilot took over and flew the jet to Saudi Arabia, according to other passengers.

The plane was diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where it made an emergency landing.

Al-Hammami was transferred Thursday from Saudi Arabia to the United Arab Emirates and remains in custody.

"He came to crash the plane with all passengers on board," Netanyahu said in a video released by his office. "We are investigating whether he was sent, and whoever sent him will pay a very heavy price."

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

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