A victim, several hospitalized children, an unknown source … This Thursday, June 19, the health authorities of Hauts-de-France and Aisne returned in detail to the severe food poisoning episode that affect several children in the city of Saint-Quentin.
• A 12 -year -old dead child, six hospitalizations
The prefecture of the department announced on Wednesday in a statement the death of a child of 12 years after food poisoning. The total number of people infected, first of all, was eight, as announced at a Pouvourville Nathalie press conference, director of Health Security at Ars in Hauts-de-France.
Among these eight children infected with a Shiga toxin, is the child who succumbed to the disease, 6 are hospitalized, four of which in a worrying state, and one is followed at home. “Four children have serious complications after this infection,” said the doctor. They suffer from a hemolytic and uremic syndrome, the same as it had appeared during the case of Buitoni pizzas.
According to Public Health France, characteristic symptoms are bloody diarrhea, sometimes vomiting, “great fatigue signs”, a decrease in urine “and, sometimes, seizures.”
• A survey on the origin of primer pollution at this stage
If eight sick children have been identified, the link between their respective infections has not yet been determined. Several hypotheses could be ruled out by the investigations of the Regional Agency for Health and Public Health France.
“What we know at this time is that all children live in Saint-Quentin or in the surroundings, they did not attend the joint community, they did not attend restaurants or collective catering in common, they had no joint water or foods,” said Nathalie de Pouvourville. Children are also all educated in different places.
“We are in a little more complex investigation, there is no evidence on these issues,” said Eloi Goullieux, chief of service at the Samu in Aisne.
The objective of the survey is to highlight the common bias of the infection, a food, a place of restoration or a place of purchase, for example.
• Authorities want to be reassuring
Although infections figures may seem disturbing for parents, the various state organizations have shown their preparation and interconnection to respond to the situation. “We understand the concerns (…) The Samu organized a broader and more orderly response,” said Eloi Goowllieux in front of the press.
Invite parents of children with symptoms, including diarrhea with traces of blood, to call 15 to detect and handle if necessary. At this stage, it was not necessary to activate a specific particular health plan for crisis situations.
“There is a lot of concern in parents, but it must be reassured (…) Food hygiene gestures are sufficient,” added the expert, recommending basic health gestures: precautions on the consumption of raw products, vegetable washing, manual washing, etc.
Source: BFM TV
