A mass illness has struck students at the Republican Physics and Mathematics School in Almaty. On October 12 and 13 of this year, 47 schoolchildren were hospitalized at the city children's clinical infectious diseases hospital, according to infohub.kz.
All admitted patients show pronounced signs of acute intestinal infection. The city's Public Health Department said the hospitalized children are under constant medical supervision. Another eight children were promptly isolated in the school's boarding facility, where strict medical monitoring was also established.
The Sanitary and Epidemiological Control Department issued an order to temporarily suspend operations of the boarding school and its food service unit. Specialists from relevant agencies are conducting a large-scale inspection.
Experts have already collected necessary samples for detailed laboratory testing to determine the exact source of infection. Authorized government bodies are keeping the situation under strict control.
The Republican Physics and Mathematics School was founded in Almaty in 1972. The institution is considered one of Kazakhstan's most prestigious schools and traditionally specializes in advanced study of exact sciences. The school has its own boarding facility, where gifted children from all regions of the republic are admitted on a competitive basis.