47 pupils of the Republican Physics and Mathematics School (RPMS) were admitted to hospital in Almaty with signs of acute intestinal infection. A further eight children from the boarding school were isolated and placed under medical observation. The work of the school, the boarding school and the food unit was temporarily suspended.
WHAT WITNESSES REPORTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Information about the mass illness appeared on Threads after a relative of the pupils published a post. He reported that his nephews and the children of other parents had ended up in hospital. According to him, it was mainly pupils living in the boarding school who fell ill.
“They say it's poisoning! Some have E. coli! Today they said the whole school has been sent into quarantine for three days! Why is nothing being said anywhere?” the author of the post wrote.
WHAT THE MEDICAL SERVICES REPLIED
The Almaty City Children's Clinical Infectious Diseases Hospital confirmed that on 12 and 13 October 2026, 47 RPMS pupils with signs of acute intestinal infection were admitted to hospital.
All the children are under the supervision of doctors. A further eight boarding school pupils were isolated and placed under medical observation.
WHY THE SCHOOL'S WORK WAS SUSPENDED
By order of the Sanitary and Epidemiological Control Department, the work of the school, the boarding school and the food unit was temporarily suspended.
Specialists are carrying out an inspection and have taken samples for laboratory testing. They will have to establish the cause of the mass illness.
