Number of Kazakh Food Poisoning Sufferers Reaches 225

Text of report by privately-owned Interfax-Kazakhstan news agency

Astana, 23 May: The number of workers suffered from food poisoning at the contractors of the TengizChevrOil (TCO) company [controlled by Chevron] in Atyrau Region (western Kazakhstan) has reached 225 people, the press service of the Kazakh Health Ministry has said.

“As of 23 May 2008, the number of food poisoning cases among workers of the contractors of the TengizChevrOil company reached 225 people. Of them, 115 were taken to hospital,” a press release circulated today by the Health Ministry says.

“Specialists from the national and regional sanitary and epidemiological services are working at the hotbed,” the press release said.

The TCO develops Tengiz and Korolevskiy oil and gas fields in Atyrau Region.

Originally published by Interfax-Kazakhstan news agency, Almaty, in Russian 0921 23 May 08.

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