The French public health agency is sounding the alarm on the multiplication of contaminations with the bacterium Escherichia Coli in the country. A child died. The General Directorate of Health has decided to open an investigation.
Thirteen cases identified since the beginning of February
Recently, several cases of contamination with Escherichia coli bacteria were recorded in France, reported the agency SpF last Friday. Since the beginning of February, the health authorities have identified 13 cases in patients aged 1 to 15, in 5 regions: Nouvelle-Aquitaine (5 cases), Hauts-de-France (3 cases), Île-de-France (3 cases), Brittany (1 case) and Pays de la Loire (1 case).
A deceased child, investigation in progress
A child died from contamination withE. coli. The French health authorities are currently investigating this suspicious death, and more broadly the worrying increase in the number of serious cases of infections linked to this bacterium. This investigation aims to “identify a possible common source of contamination and put in place the appropriate measures”.
Hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS)
All of these children were affected by hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). It is a potentially serious infectious disease, caused by a bacterium belonging to the family of Escherichia coli. It is manifested by diarrhea often accompanied by blood, abdominal pain and sometimes vomiting.
“At this stage, the epidemiological investigation does not exclude any leads” on the sources of contamination
The origin of this disease is often food, but “at this stage, the epidemiological investigation does not exclude any leads”. There might be several sources of contamination: ingestion of food eaten raw or undercooked, contaminated hands brought to the mouth, affected animals carrying bacteria or contact with another sick person…
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