KIEV, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- At least 56 people have been sickened by salmonella in a kindergarten in Netishyn city in Ukraine's western Khmelnytsky region, local authorities said on Thursday.

The regional department of the Ukrainian Health Ministry said in a statement that 44 children were among those affected.

According to local media, salmonella bacteria were found not only in the kitchen, but also in other parts of the kindergarten.

The source of the infection remains unknown.

Symptoms of salmonella infection include diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps and typically occur within 72 hours after exposure to the bacteria.

The infection can be life-threatening to children, elderly people and persons with weakened immune systems.