Mass food poisoning at Almaty FIZMAT: students switch to distance learning

Tengrinews.kz — Students at the Almaty branch of the National School of Physics and Mathematics (FIZMAT) have temporarily switched to distance learning following the hospitalization of children with signs of an acute intestinal infection.
According to the school administration, classes will be held online from October 14 to 16 for safety reasons.

“Students who remain at the boarding school will be handed over to their parents or closest relatives,” the school said.

FIZMAT also said sanitary and epidemiological specialists had inspected the school and boarding facility and collected samples for laboratory testing. The buildings have been disinfected.

“The boarding school and food service unit have been temporarily closed. The situation is under the supervision of the school administration and the relevant state authorities,” the school said.

Meanwhile, the Healthcare Ministry reported the results of an inspection at the school. Specialists examined the food service unit operated by Master Food LLP and found violations of requirements for food storage, the collection of daily samples of prepared meals and the organization of catering.
Water and food samples, as well as swabs, were collected to determine the source of the infection, and food service employees were examined. Laboratory testing is ongoing.

“Following the inspection, five orders were issued providing for the suspension of the school and canteen, a ban on the sale of certain dishes, the introduction of temporary sanitary measures, and the seizure of dairy products lacking the required accompanying documents,” the statement said.

The boarding school building has been disinfected. People who had contact with those affected are under medical supervision, while some children have been isolated at the boarding school as a preventive measure.
Following the inspection, the materials were forwarded to law enforcement agencies for review and a procedural decision in accordance with the law.
Earlier, it was reported that nearly 50 FIZMAT students in Almaty had been hospitalized with signs of an acute intestinal infection.
As of October 14, 48 students had been hospitalized at the City Children’s Infectious Diseases Hospital and were receiving inpatient treatment. Another six students were placed in the boarding school’s medical isolation unit and remain under doctors’ supervision.
The cause of the incident is currently being investigated.