Several victims who continue to rise. Now 18 cases of severe food poisoning in Aisne are identified, said Health Minister Yannick Neuder, on Sunday, June 22 during a press point before the Saint-Quentin hospital. Among them, a 12 -year -old boy who died.
• Several cases detected in the Aisne, a dead child
On Wednesday, June 18, the Prefecture announces that seven cases of severe food poisoning were identified in the same area, including the city of Saint-Quentin and its surroundings.
Among these cases, there is a 12 -year -old boy who contracted hemolytic and uremic (SHU) syndrome and did not survive. According to Public Health France, this is a “mainly renal complication of infections in Escherichia coli (E. coli) (…) whose transmission can be performed by food, a contaminated environment, a transmission of person from person to person …”. These cases are “rare, but serious”, with “100 to 160 cases” identified per year.
The other six infected children had severe digestive symptoms, bloody diarrhea, three of whom have developed hemolytic and uremic syndrome. The number of cases reported increases on the days that follow until 18 cases reach Sunday night.
• Closed butchers
By prevention, the authorities have ordered the closure of several establishments that are probably linked to this food poisoning. Four butchers and two supermarket shelves, all located in the agglomeration of Saint-Quentin, have been closed so far.
Samples have also been taken in these establishments in an attempt to determine the origin of this food poisoning.
The decision to suspend these butchers “is taken on the basis of the investigations on the consumption of each of the intoxicated people,” said the prefecture, emphasizing that “at this stage, the most likely cause of contamination is the consumption of meat.”
The reopening of these establishments will be “conditioned to the results of the investigations and the reassuring evolution of the epidemiological situation.”
• Children from one and a half to 13
According to the last evaluation, dated Sunday, 18 children were contaminated. Among them, 8 are still hospitalized in Lille, Saint-Quentin, Reims and Amiens, 6 of which are under dialysis due to hemolytic and uremic syndrome.
Currently, children under dialysis have a number and a half to 12-13 years, “said Minister Yannick Neuder.
Several children have seen their health progress progressing, “after rehydration”, “identification of the bacteria” and could “return home and lead a normal life,” said the Minister of Health.
• E.Coli’s track originally pollution
The 18 sick children identified “hired a bacterium called Escherichia Coli,” said the Minister of Health on Sunday.
The bacterium is “naturally present in our digestive microflora” and “most” of its strains are “safe” for humans, according to mangoes. However, some strains “may cause infections or carry genes of resistance to genes”, including E. coli.
The exact origin of pollution is not yet known. But health authorities believe, after a first series of analysis, which is “probably a food infection on meat originally.” A “second type of analysis” this week at the Institut Pasteur “must be carried out to continue investigations and create the causal link,” said Yannick Neuder, while identified butchers do not have a common supplier, the prefecture in the France-Presse (AFP) agency (AFP) said.
• Call for caution
Due to these contamination, the Hauts-De-France Regional Health Agency requested on June 20, in its last bulletin, which “no longer consumes the foods bought” in closed butchers “as caution.”
“The idea is not to lead to psychosis,” said the Minister of Health. It is always possible to “eat meat. This is not the issue,” he says.
The foods were eliminated from the sale in the establishments in question and also made a retirement over all the products sold since June 1, according to the ARS.
For customers who have consumed meat from closed administrative establishments, including butcher shop, Boulevard Henri Martin and the Boucherie family, 3 Binded Gambetta, both in Saint-Quentin, it is advisable to monitor the appearance of symptoms. “If you notice that your child has a bloody diarrhea made 15,” also recommends the AR that remembers that it is essential to wash your hands before each meal, carefully wash vegetables and fruits and cook the meat by heart to avoid contamination.
Source: BFM TV
