Two hundred and ninety nine children suffering from an acute intestinal illness have been hospitalised in Ukraine's Khmelnitsk region.

The children aged from two to six are from seven kindergartens in Neteshin, the Khmelnitsk nuclear power plant's satellite city.

The children were taken to the Energoatom company's medical centre beginning 14:00 Moscow time on October 7, the Emergencies Ministry's press service told Itar-Tass.

A total of 972 children were in the kindergartens.

Tests are being conducted to determine what infection caused the illness. The test results are expected to be known after 17:00 on October 8.

Four of the children are in grave condition, and 215 are in a state of medium-gravity. Seventy four children are treated at home.

Epidemiologists work at the site. They have taken anti-epidemic measures.

Specialists suppose butter or meat products could cause the mass poisoning, the head of the Neteshin city council's department for emergencies, Vasily Zhuk, told Itar-Tass.

Ukrainian military medical specialists help to treat the children, a Defence Ministry source said.

According to the ministry, the mass poisoning was reported on October 6.

Thirty beds are prepared in two military hospitals in Rovno and Khmelnitsk for such patients.

A team of military medical specialists went to Neteshin to help the colleagues.

The preliminary diagnosis is dysentery.

Source: Agencies