Hundreds fall ill with suspected water poisoning in Ukraine port city

A total of 583 people have sought emergency medical help in the past few days after falling ill with an infectious disease in the port city of Izmail in Ukraine's southern Odessa region, authorities said Thursday.

Local authorities said most of them were diagnosed with acute gastroenteritis, with symptoms of heavy vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pains.

"The preliminary cause of the disease is the consumption of contaminated water," the State Emergency Service said in a statement on its website.

Among those seeking medical treatment were 331 children. As of Thursday morning, 221 people, including 115 children, remain in the hospital, while 362 others have been discharged.

Andriy Abramchenko, the mayor of Izmail, said that local authorities are preparing to purify and disinfect the pipelines that supply water to the city residents.

Izmail is a major transport hub and the largest Ukrainian port on the Danube River, which links the East European country with the states of Central and Northern Europe. Endi