MORE VICTIMS OF POLLUTED DRINKING WATER IN SOUTHERN RUSSIA








STAVROPOL /ROSTOV-ON-DON/, March 5, 2001. /from RIA Novosti correspondents Valery Oliyanchuk and Sofia Brykanova/--An alarming situation in the stanitsa of Chernolesskaya of the Stavropol territory, southern Russia, is still a priority with the local and federal medical establishments. The number of infected by drinking water from water pipelines polluted with infectious admixtures is still on the increase in the stanitsa.


	Head physician of a local hospital of Stavropol Vladimir Yerofeyev has informed RIA Novosti that the outbreak of the disease started a week ago. In the past twenty four hours the number of infected people grew by 28. All in all since the very start of the epidemic 357 people, including 199 children under 14 years of age, have applied for medical help. 127 people, with 88 children among them, have been hospitalised. No grave cases have been registered, while on Sunday the first 15 people were discharged home.


	According to data from the press service of the North Caucasus regional centre of the Emergencies Ministry of Russia, the so-called Flexner's Shigella eubacteria caused the disease. Investigation into the reasons for the outburst of infection has been launched. Emergency precaution measures are being taken and a ban on the use of drinking water from water pipelines has been introduced. Clean drinking water is being delivered to the stanitsa in reservoirs.