Authorities in Almaty, Kazakhstan, have launched a criminal investigation after 48 students at the Republican Physics and Mathematics School were hospitalized with an intestinal infection.

The first students began arriving at an infectious disease hospital on October 12 with symptoms of an acute intestinal infection, according to 24.kz.

All hospitalized students are in stable condition, and none requires intensive care. Six additional students remain under medical observation at the school’s boarding facility.

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Health has also joined the investigation. Inspectors examined the kitchen facilities of the company responsible for providing meals to students and identified violations involving food storage, the sampling of prepared dishes and the organization of catering services.

Following the inspection, authorities issued five administrative orders and referred the materials to law enforcement agencies.

The school, boarding facility and cafeteria have been temporarily closed, and students have switched to remote learning.

Investigators are awaiting the results of a sanitary and epidemiological inspection to establish the circumstances of the outbreak.