Eleven cases of food poisoning of children in total have been identified in Aisne or around, since June 12, the prefecture said this Friday, June 20. A 12 -year -old girl died.
Three new cases of child food poisoning have been identified in the Aisne and its surroundings since Thursday evening, bringing the total to 11 cases, the prefecture announced in a statement this Friday, June 20.
All these children have been victims of severe digestive symptomatology (bloody diarrhea) since June 12, according to the prefecture. Among them, six “have developed hemolytic and uremic syndrome (Shu), one of which is unfortunately deceased”. She is a 12 -year -old girl.
Among the three new intoxicated children, one lies in the agglomeration of Saint-Quentin (Aisne), where the first cases occurred, and another resides in the Marne but consumed meat from a Saint-Quentin butcher’s shop whose activity was suspended by the prefecture, details the latter.
“A last case, identified (Friday) evening, is being invested,” it is specified.
Do not consume the foodstuffs of these butchers
As a precaution and pending analysis results, the prefecture asks the population “to no longer consume the foods purchased in four butcheries” of Saint-Quentin, whose names and addresses it has disclosed.
The activity of two first butchers has been suspended since Thursday, the prefecture having explained on Friday morning that sick children had “consumed meat or meat products” from these two establishments a few days before the symptoms.
Since then, “investigations have been extended to new establishments in which samples have been taken,” said the prefecture.
100 to 165 children affected per year
The results of the analyzes of these meat samples, at least concerning the first two butchers, “should be known at the start of next week,” the prefecture said on Friday morning.
The samples were sent to the National Reference Laboratory in Marcy-l’étoile in the Rhône, and a survey relating to the traceability of the meats used was engaged.
Rare infectious disease, “most often of food origin”, the Shu occurs in most cases as a complication of intoxication to a bacteria from the family of Escherichia coli (E. coli). It affects 100 to 165 children in France each year, according to Public Health France.
