In Fergana, 51 children from three kindergartens hospitalized with symptoms of poisoning

Mass hospitalization of children in Fergana

On October 26, 2026, in the city of Fergana, Uzbekistan, children from three preschool institutions — kindergartens No. 2, 7 and 47 — were brought to the regional infectious diseases hospital with symptoms of food poisoning. According to the Food Safety Committee, the children complained of fever, abdominal pain, weakness, nausea and diarrhea. As of 11:00 that same day, 28 children remained in the hospital, and their condition is assessed as stable, with no severe cases recorded. Another 23 children who sought medical assistance received recommendations and were sent home for treatment, as their condition was deemed satisfactory. According to sources, the total number of those affected is 51.

Progress of the investigation and checks of suppliers

As part of the initial epidemiological investigation, specialists examined the children's diet, including the foods consumed at breakfast, lunch and afternoon snack. The suppliers of food products and the prepared dishes that could have caused the illness were identified. Seized samples of food and prepared dishes were sent for bacteriological testing. As media outlets note, the epidemiological investigation and laboratory analyses are ongoing, and the final cause of the mass illness will be determined based on their results. Earlier, cases of mass poisoning in kindergartens had already been recorded in Fergana and Quva, which were linked to the activities of outsourcing companies that received contracts without a tender.