Kindergarten children poisoned en masse in Akkurgan

There were reports on social networks that 150 children had food poisoning and one died in a kindergarten in the Akkurgan district of Tashkent region. The information service of the Ministry of Preschool Education has issued an official statement in this regard.

It was noted that the Ministry and the Sanitary-Epidemiological Wellbeing and Public Health Service examined the morbidity of 25 children of the state preschool institution No. 5 in Akkurgan district.

From August 2 to August 11, children with clinical manifestations of intoxication syndrome were placed in the clinic of the Tashkent Pediatric Medical Institute, the Republican Scientific Center for Emergency Care, Tashkent City Infectious Diseases Clinical Hospital No. 1, Tashkent Regional Children’s Multidisciplinary Medical Center and Akkurgan District Infectious Diseases Hospital.

As of August 12, 6 children are being treated in the intensive care unit, one of them is connected to an artificial respiration device and remains in a critical condition. The condition of the remaining 19 children was assessed as moderate. Tests were taken from the hospitalized children for bacteriological examination and sent to the laboratory.

A team of infectious disease specialists and epidemiologists was sent by the Sanitary-Epidemiological Surveillance and Public Health Service to coordinate anti-epidemiological measures and provide methodological assistance to local specialists.

“Specialists of the Research Institute of Epidemiology, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases held a consultation. The hospitalized children were diagnosed with “botulism” based on their clinical manifestations. The final diagnosis is based on the results of epidemiological studies and bacteriological research. During the treatment, positive changes were observed in the health of 21 children,” the report said.

“Kindergarten pupils, who are not suffering from the disease, are being medically examined and monitored daily by medical staff,” the ministry said in statement.

In addition, a personal profile on social media stated that one child died of food poisoning at this kindergarten.

It is noted that from August 2 to August 7, 2021, youngster M.B. was diagnosed with “Out-patient bilateral pneumonia. Complications: Cardiovascular insufficiency. Brain tumor” and treated by doctors of the Tashkent regional branch of the Republican Scientific Center for Emergency Care. Despite the efforts of physicians, a biological death was reported on August 7 due to cardiovascular failure and complications of pneumonia.

On this fact, law enforcement agencies are currently conducting an investigation, and the Ministry of Preschool Education will provide additional information based on the results of the investigation.