Dozens fall ill after French National Day reception in Armenia

Dozens of guests fell ill following a Bastille Day reception hosted by the French embassy in Armenia, with many later hospitalised with suspected intestinal infections, Armenian media reported.

The event, held on July 14 to mark France’s national holiday, was attended by senior officials, diplomats and public figures, including Armenia’s Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan.

According to reports cited by Caliber.Az, the reception took place outdoors in hot weather conditions. Within hours of the event, a significant number of attendees began experiencing symptoms consistent with an intestinal infection and sought medical assistance.

Authorities have not yet provided an official explanation for the reported illnesses. It remains unclear how many people were affected or whether food safety issues contributed to the outbreak.

By Tamilla Hasanova