Japan Asks Russia for Information on Death of Plague Research Institute Worker in Irkutsk

Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said Tokyo has requested information from Russia after an employee at a plague research institute in Irkutsk died of pneumonia last week.

Speaking at a press conference on October 4, Motegi said Japan is closely monitoring the situation and has sent a request to Moscow to clarify the details surrounding the death.

Russian authorities have so far not released official information on the cause of the employee's death, while local health officials continue to investigate the case.