An electron microscope photograph of the omicron variant of the coronavirus that was successfully isolated by the National Institute of Infectious Diseases is seen in this image provided by the research institute.

       Two men who recently died in Japan were possibly infected with the coronavirus's omicron variant.

       The Osaka Prefectural Government announced on Jan. 12 that a man in his 80s suspected of being infected with the omicron strain had passed away. This is the first reported fatality in the prefecture of a person with suspected omicron infection.

       According to the prefecture, the man had a preexisting condition and died on Jan. 8. He tested negative for the virus's delta variant, but as officials suspect that he was infected with the omicron strain, the prefectural government is analyzing the genome structure.

       Meanwhile, the Shizuoka Municipal Government announced on Jan. 12 it was highly possible that a local elderly man who died during hospitalization at a medical institution in the central Japan city had been infected with the omicron variant. He had tested negative for the delta strain.

       According to the municipal government, the man had a severe preexisting condition and died on Jan. 11. After interviewing the medical institution and other sources, the city's public health center believes that it was highly likely that his death was caused by the worsening of his preexisting condition.

       (Japanese original by Yasutoshi Tsurumi, Osaka City News Department, and Hideyuki Yamada, Shizuoka Bureau)

       Font Size S M L Print Timeline 0