Three people have died and more than 40 hospitalised following a mysterious mass poisoning in Moscow. The incident at a care home in the town of Vidnoye has triggered a major probe, with authorities seizing food, kitchen equipment and various samples for analysis.
Russia‘s Investigative Committee has launched a criminal investigation amid fears the death toll could climb higher. Reports suggest that the care home, which has not been named, housed 73 residents at the time of the incident, with 55 initially examined at the scene. Forensic specialists are now examining the home’s facilities, according to Russian publication Life Ru.
Paperwork from the nursing home has been gathered whilst interviews with staff, management and residents are being carried out.
It’s understood that residents first began showing symptoms of illness between December 18 and 19, though medics were allegedly not called straight away as staff attempted to treat those who fell sick.
The Main Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of Russia for the Moscow Region said: “Investigative actions are underway in the Moscow Region as part of a criminal investigation into the poisoning of boarding house guests.
“Investigative bodies of the Main Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of Russia for the Moscow Region continue their investigation into the mass poisoning of boarding house guests in the city of Vidnoye (Clause “c” of Part 2 of Article 238 of the Russian Criminal Code).
“It was established that 73 people were staying at the boarding house. More than 40 people were hospitalised in varying degrees of severity, and three died.
“Investigators and forensic experts from the regional Investigative Committee of Russia inspected the boarding house, seized necessary documentation, and collected food samples and utensils.
“Representatives from Rospotrebnadzor (Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing) collected food samples, which have been assigned for further testing.
“Currently, interrogations are being conducted with the institution’s management, as well as with residents, to establish the reasons and conditions that contributed to the commission of the crime.”
