European Commission again seeks data to assess risk

The European Commission again called for Russia to provide detailed information promptly on the Irkutsk case. BTA (Bulgarian News Agency, Bulgaria’s national news agency) reported a spokesperson’s press-conference response on 8 October. The text does not name the spokesperson.

The report says the EU (European Union) delegation in Russia sought information through WHO (World Health Organization, a United Nations specialized agency)’s Russian office. The spokesperson described insufficient information to assess hazards and select measures if needed, and declined to judge whether Russia had breached its obligations.

This is a journalist’s account of a new response. The previously reviewed official 7 October transcript concerns the preceding briefing. The original 8 October recording or transcript was not obtained in this check. The Bulgarian article’s introductory claim of plague infection supplies no laboratory document and is not adopted as an established diagnosis. Russian statements about completed monitoring and tests remain separately documented.

BTA: 8 October, 14:34:37 UTC+3; Irkutsk 19:34:37. UTC (Coordinated Universal Time). Exact press-conference speaking time unknown. Added to research on 8 October.