In the town of Arkalyk in Kostanay Region, 85 people suffered food poisoning after a toy held at a local café. Those affected were hospitalised in medical facilities across the region. According to one attendee, the event was in celebration of a relative's 60th birthday.
According to the publication "Our Newspaper", the deputy head of the regional health department, Aidana Burkitbayeva, stated at a briefing that the patients' condition is assessed as satisfactory and that there is no threat to life.
27 people were taken to Zhangeldin Hospital, 52 to Arkalyk, and a further 6 to the regional hospital. Among the victims are seven children and one pregnant woman.
"A team of specialists has been dispatched by air ambulance, including infectious disease doctors, freelance specialists, therapists, and paediatricians. The head of the health department has also travelled to the Torgai region to coordinate medical care on site," explained Burkitbayeva.
The deputy head of the regional department of sanitary and epidemiological control, Gulim Dosumova, reported that an investigation has been launched into the mass poisoning.
"An inspection of the premises was carried out with the collection of food and drinking water samples, as well as swabs; the café's staff were examined. All analyses are currently in the laboratory, and results are not yet ready. During the inspection, it was established that this establishment does not operate on a daily basis but only serves banquets. A decree has been issued by the Chief State Sanitary Doctor of Kostanay Region suspending the café's operations, as well as suspending its employees from work until all causes of the incident are determined," she reported.
According to Dosumova, specialists managed to take samples of the meat and other products that the guests had consumed. The results of the laboratory analyses are not yet ready; they will be compared against the microflora of the victims.
A criminal case has been opened in connection with the incident under Part 1 of Article 304 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan ("Violation of sanitary regulations or hygiene standards").
It has emerged that the last sanitary inspection of this café was carried out in 2014, and no violations were found at that time.