In Balkhash, 29 cases of acute intestinal infection were recorded at the Doshan holiday home, and 18 people were hospitalised with severe symptoms of poisoning.
According to Ratel.kz, the regional sanitary and epidemiological supervision authorities said an investigation had been launched and that samples had been collected for laboratory analysis.
The authorities also reported that 'Doshan' had been placed under quarantine, but those affected claim the guesthouse is still operating.
One of the victims, Manzura Zhetpisbayeva, described what happened. According to her, she saw mice in the guesthouse building, and the rooms were dusty and poorly cleaned.
"The cost of a voucher for two people ranges from 45,000 to 90,000, including breakfast and lunch. There were no first aid kits in the guesthouse to provide emergency care, and a 0.5-litre bottle of water cost 950 tenge. They kept telling us we had eaten the wrong thing, although I made it clear to them that we had only eaten at their restaurant. In the restaurant, the plates were poorly washed, and there were flies. The plates were on the lowest shelf, almost on the floor. There were huge queues in the restaurant, and one child fainted from the crowding and stuffiness. Those who came last for lunch didn't get enough food, and many people were arguing," Zhetpisbayeva said.
Some of the victims suspect that bacteria may have entered their bodies through the water.
"I think I was poisoned by the water, because for the first two days of our holiday we only drank our own water, but my mother accidentally poured herself tea from an unboiled kettle and drank it. That was on 12 August in the afternoon, and on 13 August she fell ill. We drank the filtered water served by the restaurant in carafes. At lunch on 13 August, my friend's child fell ill, and by morning my daughter's temperature had risen to 39.8, then we all fell ill. In their restaurant, there is a tap at the bar where they pour filtered water for anyone who asks," the woman stated.
Zhetpisbayeva also reported that the owners of the holiday home had not been in contact with anyone, and the administrators had not apologised to anyone for what had happened. Moreover, they blamed the victims for 'eating anywhere'.
"They don't even want to hear about financial compensation. They are behaving arrogantly, apparently confident that nothing will happen to them for this. But some people got back 50 per cent of the amount paid, others 15 per cent. The holiday we were looking forward to has been ruined; we're lucky to be alive, and there's still a long recovery process ahead. We are now undergoing tests again," the statement said.
It has emerged that some have already received the results of laboratory tests. Experts found klebsiella – these are enterobacteria that live in the gastrointestinal tract under normal conditions. However, if they enter the body in large quantities from an external source, they can cause acute intestinal infection and associated diseases of the entire tract.
"This enterobacterium is very dangerous. It takes years to recover from it. Do you know what shocked me the most? That the management knew that people had been falling ill there since July, yet they were still accommodating people with small children. I met a girl who was there three weeks ago and fell ill, and she is still ill," Zhetpisbayeva said.
According to the woman, she and at least 14 other victims have filed a complaint with the police. In turn, the press service of the sanitary and epidemiological authorities confirmed that a criminal case has been registered.
"All disinfection treatments have been carried out, an investigation is underway, and a criminal case has been opened. There is no new occupancy; the investigation is ongoing as part of the criminal case, so further details will be available upon its completion," the statement said.