In Pavlodar, after a traditional "kyz uzatu" ceremony at the Bellagio restaurant, 34 people were hospitalised, including a child and a pregnant woman. All those affected are experiencing high fever, vomiting and diarrhoea. Their condition is assessed as moderate severity.
According to ORDA, the bride Aziza Isabay said that guests brought some of the products themselves, such as meat, fruit, pies and drinks. However, the salads were prepared by the restaurant itself. In her opinion, these could have been the source of the poisoning.
"I am sure it is not the pies, juices or fruit, because I ate those products myself and I did not get poisoned. But meanwhile, all my relatives are continuing to fall ill, and it is all those who ate the salads," she stated.
It is also reported that despite the investigation having begun, the establishment continued to operate the following day. As noted, after a subsequent banquet, at least 10 further cases of poisoning were recorded.
"Information was received from the ambulance station regarding cases of intestinal infection among people who had visited the Bellagio restaurant the previous day. Our specialists immediately began an epidemiological investigation. An inspection of this restaurant has been launched," reported the regional department of sanitary and epidemiological control.
Journalists' attempts to obtain a comment from the restaurant's management were unsuccessful — no one answered any of the phone calls.
It is worth recalling that in April in Astana, after a meal at the Koktem café, 21 people, including children, sought medical attention with suspected poisoning. Later, results of laboratory food analyses showed that the cause of the poisoning was a batch of raw meat delivered by the supplier.
In turn, the establishment's managing director promised that the cost of the order and medical expenses for all those affected would be compensated. The Koktem café continues to operate as normal at present.