Rospotrebnadzor confirmed the cause of poisoning of hundreds of people in Dagestan

The cause of the poisoning of 392 residents of the Magaramkent district was the lack of water treatment and numerous violations in the water supply system, stated Rospotrebnadzor of Dagestan.

As "Kavkazsky Uzel" wrote, signs of intestinal infection were registered in 392 residents of the Magaramkent district, the Ministry of Health of Dagestan reported on July 11. In the hospital there were 45 people with symptoms of gastroenteritis.

The Office of Rospotrebnadzor  established a causal relationship between the incidence of the disease in the Magaramkent district and the ingress of the infectious agent into the tap water, which was supplied without water treatment.

The infectious agent was isolated from the water in the distribution network, from patients and from contacts, the department reported.

During the epidemiological investigation and laboratory tests, it was established that the accident site was a section of the water pipeline from the Dzhepel water source to the village of Gilar. The factors that contributed to the spread of the infection were the lack of water preparation and registration of accidents on the water main and failure to inform the Rospotrebnadzor authorities.

Numerous violations were also identified - violation of the sanitary protection zone of the water source, failure to comply with sanitary break zones on the main water mains, \private houses were built along the pipe routing line, the department's Telegram channel says.

The Magarmkent district administration reported tonight on the continuation of water delivery to residents of five villages and vaccination of children against hepatitis A and shigellosis.

We recall that earlier the authorities announced that in connection with the disinfection of water and water supply systems from the evening of July 10 until the end of the day on July 11, residents are prohibited from using tap water even in technical purposes.

Drinking water is brought to the villages, but for hygienic purposes, they have to use tap water, despite the ban, villagers told the "Caucasian Knot". "We continue to wash things with tap water, but what else can we do? We have three children, we can't wash all our things by hand, and where can we get so much clean water?" - said, in particular, a resident of Magaramkent, Maryam.

The problem of mass water poisoning in Dagestan has been observed for many years

The head of Dagestan Sergey Melikov, commenting on the situation in the Magaramkent region, called the mass poisoning the result of "negligence and irresponsibility" and promised that "everyone involved in this negligence will be held accountable". Melikov has been heading the republic since October 2020.

At the same time, mass poisoning with tap water has occurred in Dagestan more than once. Thus, in June 2024, at least 228 people were hospitalized in Buynaksk after mass poisoning. The Rospotrebnadzor Administration stated that tap water was the source of the mass infection, and six of the sick people were found to have several intestinal infections: dysentery, norovirus, and rotavirus. The head of the Buinakskvodokanal was charged with improper maintenance of water supply facilities.

In January 2021, there was also a mass poisoning of Buinaksk residents with tap water, when 359 people sought medical attention. The city's water supply was suspended, kindergartens were closed, and schoolchildren were transferred to distance learning. Following the investigation of the criminal case in February 2022, the head of Buinakskvodokanal was fined only 100 thousand rubles, while the prosecutor demanded an even smaller fine of 50 thousand rubles.

Mass poisonings in Buinaksk occur against the backdrop of sewage entering worn-out water supply networks and illegal taps into the water supply system, Dagestani specialists indicated.

In the fall of 2016, repair work at the Miatlinskaya hydroelectric power station and a breakthrough in the outdated sewage system led to water pollution and mass poisoning of almost 700 people in Makhachkala. The circumstances and consequences of this incident are described by the "Caucasian Knot" in the reference "Mass water poisoning in Makhachkala".