Astrakhan Region: school director where children got poisoned sacked

In the Astrakhan Region, Elena Levkina, Director of the Tuzuklei secondary school, where a mass poisoning of children took place, was dismissed from her post under suspicion of negligence.

The pupils' mass poisoning happened on April 30. Children addressed for medical help complaining of nausea, digestion disorders and high temperature. In total, 39 children were hospitalized with the diagnosis of "dysentery"; their condition is assessed as stable and of medium gravity.

The "Interfax" reports that the court made a decision to remove Ms Levkina from office under petition of regional investigatory bodies.

"The school canteen had rough violations of sanitary-and-epidemiologic rules and norms," said Anna Konyaeva from the ICPO (Investigatory Committee at the Prosecutors Office) of the Astrakhan Region. "Children were fed with thermally untreated vegetables. Water, despite the available filters, has the colibacilli level in excess of the permissible limit. Besides, it was established that the canteen sold privately aerated drinks, confectionery and baked products not listed in the menu and outside sanitary control."

Until the end of bacteriological tests, experts refrain from naming the source of the dysentery infection, the IA "Avers" writes.