Mass poisoning in Dagestan: more than 100 people went to the hospital

On Monday, July 7, it became known about an outbreak of intestinal infection among residents of five villages of the Magaramkentsky district of Dagestan. Cases of the disease have been identified, including in children from three to 14 years old. According to the regional department of Rospotrebnadzor, according to preliminary data, the cause of the outbreak of the disease could be water from the Dzhepelsky spring, located 14 km from the village of Magaramkent. Samples and biomaterials are currently being sampled. Read more about the incident in the Izvestia article.

Mass poisoning in Dagestan: what is known

According to the Rospotrebnadzor of the Republic of Dagestan, on the night of July 7, information was received about multiple cases of intestinal infection in five villages of the Magaramkent district (the nearest major city is Derbent): Magaramkent, Kuisun, Gilyar, Gaptsakh and Verkhny Tagirkent.

More than 120 local residents needed medical help, while it was reported that 18 people were in the hospital. All of them went to the Magaramkent Central District Hospital with complaints of nausea, vomiting and fever. Poisoning was detected of mild to moderate severity, no severe cases were recorded.

According to the latest data, the diseases may be associated with the use of drinking water coming from the water source "Dzhepelsky", located at a distance of 14 km from Magaramkent.

The Telegram channel of the regional Rospotrebnadzor reported that specialists were taking samples of water and biomaterial from the victims.

"A set of anti-epidemic measures is being carried out, which will allow localizing the outbreak within the incubation period. The situation remains under Management control, and anti—epidemic measures are continuing," the report says.

Cases of infection have been identified, including in children aged three to 14 years, and they are fully receiving qualified assistance.

Residents of settlements where an outbreak of intestinal infection has been reported were advised to take all precautions: use only bottled or boiled water for drinking and cooking, wash their hands thoroughly and follow personal hygiene rules.

According to TASS, the supply of drinking water was organized for residents of the Magaramkent district.

Investigation of the causes of poisoning in Dagestan

At the time of the article's publication, it was known that the epidemiological investigation was ongoing, and the situation was under special control of Rospotrebnadzor.

"Rospotrebnadzor specialists are carrying out the necessary anti-epidemic measures. An examination of the victims is being conducted, water samples have been taken from the water source and the distribution network, a decree has been prepared banning the use of unboiled water for drinking purposes, and an inspection of the water pipeline and water source is being conducted for leaks and emergencies. In addition, active yard searches are being conducted in order to identify all the victims," the department's Telegram channel says.

The Dagestan Prosecutor's Office also organized an inspection in order to establish the circumstances of the incident and assess compliance by the resource supply organization and authorized officials with the requirements of legislation in the field of housing and communal services and ensuring the sanitary and epidemiological welfare of the population.

Based on the results of this audit, the issue of introducing acts of prosecutorial response will also be considered. The course and results of the procedural check on the fact of mass poisoning have been put under control by the prosecutor's office.

Mass water poisoning in Dagestan in 2024

There are frequent outbreaks of water poisoning in Dagestan, the last of which occurred in June 2024 in Buinaksk, located about 36 km from Makhachkala. At that time, an outbreak of intestinal infection was also recorded in the city, more than 270 people, including children, turned to specialists for help.

Outbreaks of infections due to water in Dagestan: causes

Back in 2021, the current head of Dagestan, Sergei Melikov, said that mass poisoning in the republic was associated with poor drinking water quality, while there was no water supply scheme and there were not enough sewage treatment plants.

"Every year, outbreaks of infectious diseases spread through water are recorded in Dagestan, hundreds of people are hospitalized. In most cases, the victims are children or older people <...> In my opinion, it is necessary to completely reconstruct and expand the treatment facilities of Makhachkala and complete the construction of a tunnel collector to them," he said.

According to Melikov, the sewage treatment plants and main lines of the Makhachkala agglomeration were built back in Soviet times and are designed for the maximum population of the city up to 500 thousand people. According to data for 2025, the population of the Makhachkala agglomeration has doubled this figure, reaching one million inhabitants. The infrastructure was not repaired.