The health authorities said they had identified 21 cases of Listeriosis, a disease that caused the death of two people, said a public health statement, published on Tuesday, August 12.
Research “led to identify, in early August, convergent epidemiological and microbiological elements” between different cases of listeriosis. The 21 contaminated people are between 34 and 95, while, between the two victims, one had “underlying pathologies.”
• A “possible link” with cheese consumption
If the source of pollution is not yet identified, Public Health France establishes a “possible link” with the consumption of cheeses, based on the temporality of the facts and the identification of the germ.
Several dozen varieties of products, from the Chavegrand cheese, in Maison-Feyne, in La Creuse, were removed.
“People are asked to support these products that do not consume them,” said the government.
• A specific production line
In June, this same company had made reminders of its production, for the suspicions of Listeria and, in mid -July, the health authorities issued a new alert.
Cheese dairy recalled all its products manufactured before June 1. The company explains that all specific products were produced by an old production line that closed last June. A total of 105 references were withdrawn, including Brie, Camembert or Gorgonzola cheese sold in supermarkets.
“We have multiplied by 100 the number of analysis in products and equipment to ensure that there has been no pollutant. All our employees who have been working very hard since June are stunned by this news,” adds Chavegrand’s communication, which speaks of an “extremely weird” case.
• An important risk for pregnant women
Listeriosis, caused by Listeria Monocytogenes, is the second cause of food poisoning mortality with, in France, a few dozen deaths per year.
This infection has an important risk for newborns, immunocompromised people, older and especially pregnant women, who are more likely to develop it than the general population after an exhibition. She “can cause abortion, premature delivery or a severe neonatal infection,” said the Pasteur Institute.
• Ubiquist bacteria
Listeria bacteria is ubiquitous, which can be found both in the soils and in the feces of certain animals or at the level of the biliary tract in some humans. 99% of Listeria infections are food origins, specifies doctor Aurel Guedj, health consultant for BFMTV.
This bacterium is resistant to low temperatures, including those of the refrigerator, specifies Professor Imad Kansau, an infectologist at the Antoine-Beglère hospital. “If someone thinks that they have consumed a food in question, there may be the appearance of fever, headache, influenza and digestive symptoms.” Your incubation period can pass up to eight weeks.
“Epidemics, rare and small today, have been caused by dairy products, meat products, transformed fish and fresh and frozen vegetables,” says the Pasteur Institute. 400 to 500 cases of Listeriosis are detected every year in France.
Source: BFM TV
