Criminal case initiated following mass poisoning of children in kindergartens

Earlier, it was reported that children had suffered mass poisoning at state preschool institutions in the Piskent and Boka districts of the Tashkent region. The Kuyichirchik district has now been added to the affected areas, and a criminal case has been initiated in connection with the incident, the Ombudsman for children reported.

According to available information, on September 24, children from state preschool institutions in the Piskent, Boka, and Kuyichirchik districts of the Tashkent region were taken to district medical associations with a number of complaints, including high fever, nausea, and diarrhea.

Based on the results of initial medical examinations, the affected children received the necessary treatment, and since most of them showed improvement the same day, they were discharged and sent home. No patients in serious condition were identified.

It was stated that specialists from the regional department of Sanitary-Epidemiological welfare and public health, as well as from the Piskent, Boka, and Oqqorgon district branches, inspected the canteens of the preschool institutions. Food samples consumed daily by the children were collected and are currently being examined in laboratories in accordance with established procedures.

Any situation related to the mass poisoning of children will be subject to special supervision by the responsible authorities.

Today, September 25, the Investigation department under the Tashkent regional Department of Internal Affairs initiated a criminal case under Article 257-1, Part 1 of the Criminal Code (Violation of sanitary legislation or anti-epidemic rules) in connection with this incident, and preliminary investigative actions are underway. The Children’s Ombudsman will continue to monitor the situation from the perspective of safeguarding the interests of children.

It is worth noting that earlier, the low-quality dairy products were cited as the cause of the children’s health issues based on preliminary assumptions. It was established that the 3.2% milk products delivered that day to preschool institutions had been produced at one of the workshops in the Oqqorgon district.