Count of victims hospitalized after mass poisoning in Nalchik reaches 43

The Centre for Prevention and Control of AIDS and Infectious Diseases of the Ministry of Public Health of Kabardino-Balkaria continues receiving patients, suspected of botulism, who got poisoned at the cafe-canteen of the Republic's State Agricultural Academy. In total, 43 persons have been hospitalized.

On October 27, all the today's patients had their lunch at the canteen of one of the departments of the Kabardino-Balkar State Agricultural Academy. They ate salads and burgers, cooked with addition of homemade canned pickled cucumbers. On October 30, Radima Ezieva, a fifth-year student of the Academy, a native of Nartkala city, died in the Urvan District Hospital.

"Currently, 43 persons with symptoms of poisoning are at hospital," Klim Khatsukov, the chief state sanitary doctor of Kabardino-Balkaria, said today, the "Interfax" reports.

According to investigators, the source of poisoning was in pickled cucumbers bought at the marketplace. All the victims had eaten the salad "Stolichny" at the student canteen, the "Echo Moskvy" Radio reports.

So far, the "Caucasian Knot" has no comments of cafe owners on the fact of mass poisoning.