The Voenmekh children’s camp in Roshchino, Leningrad region, has been temporarily closed following the discovery of a tuberculosis case in one of its employees, prompting a swift relocation of children to other camps and their homes. Rospotrebnadzor, the Russian Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing, confirmed the closure after an inspection and is currently conducting a sanitary and epidemiological investigation.

The camp’s administration has remained largely silent, leaving parents scrambling for information regarding the whereabouts and well-being of their children. The Education Committee of St. Petersburg has stepped in, organizing the transfer of children to alternative camps in the Leningrad region.

According to Fontanka, the infected employee, who worked in household services and resided in a staff dormitory, sought medical attention in early July due to feeling unwell. His condition deteriorated, leading to hospitalization and a diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis. The employee’s fluorography results from December were submitted upon employment.

News of the camp’s closure spread rapidly among parents, mainly through a VKontakte group where they shared information and sought assistance in contacting their children. Some children were sent to camps such as “Raketa,” “Zeleny Gorod,” and “Fregat,” while others were sent home.

Parents expressed frustration with the lack of communication from the camp administration, with many reporting that their calls went unanswered. Some were informed of the situation by their children, who were woken up early and instructed to pack their belongings for relocation.

The situation has caused considerable anxiety among parents, who are concerned about the potential exposure of their children to tuberculosis and the lack of transparency from the camp administration. Rospotrebnadzor is working to identify and examine those who had contact with the infected employee and is carrying out disinfection procedures at the camp.