"Rospotrebnadzor": bad drinking water caused mass poisoning in KChR

The outbreak of intestinal infection in the Karachay-Cherkessian Republic (KChR), among residents of Ust-Djeguta was caused by water pollution, said Elena Pokrovskaya, the press secretary of the "Rospotrebnadzor" (Russian Federal Agency for Consumer Supervision), after the check conducted by the Agency.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on April 21-22, in the Ust-Djegutin District of the KChR, physicians registered several dozens cases of acute gastroenteritis. According to the branch of the "Rospotrebnadzor" in the KChR; 34 people were hospitalized. The Public Health Ministry of the Republic said that people are getting better and discharged.

According to Elena Pokrovskaya, the water quality was substandard because of the unfair work of local water utilities. On April 21 and 22, water in the Kuban River, from where the local water supplying organization "Karachay-Cherkesskmeliovodkhoz" takes water, was turbid due to heavy rains.

The regional "Rospotrebnadzor" has found out that the above organization reduced chlorination; and pollution was several times higher than the norm. Moreover, local purification facilities worked badly.

Rashid Temrezov, the head of the KChR took the inquiry into the accident under control; the investigation is conducted by the Prosecutor's Office of the KChR.