The Sanitary-Epidemiological Welfare and Public Health Committee published data on the number of citizens affected by poisoning.

Over the last 8 months of this year, 39 cases of group poisoning were recorded across the republic, in which 414 people were injured and 3 citizens died. 86 of the victims are children, the press service of the Sanitary-Epidemiological Welfare and Public Health Committee reports.

21 cases of poisoning (53.8%) were caused by botulism, 1 case of kindergarten (2.5%), 13 cases (23.0%) of food poisoning and 1 case (2.5%) of chemical poisoning.

21 cases of botulism were caused by consumption of home-made canned food. 3 cases occurred in Jizzakh, 6 in Samarkand and 6 in Fergana regions.

When analyzing the causes of the above cases, the following was found:

-  kitchens of public catering establishments and non-state educational institutions do not meet the requirements of sanitary standards;
-  kitchens are not fully equipped with the necessary equipment for preparing food, and the existing equipment is outdated or in poor condition;
-  consumption by victims of products, the quality and safety of which are not guaranteed;
-  most cooks at catering establishments do not have specialized education and do not know food preparation technologies or the rules for storing and transporting food.