One death and several severe cases of food poisoning have been reported in a French town.
Seven cases of serious diarrhea have affected children aged 1 to 12 living in Saint-Quentin and the surrounding area. Saint-Quentin is in the Hauts-de-France region in northern France.
Symptoms began between June 12 and 17, and four people developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), one of whom died. HUS is a rare but severe complication associated with E. coli infections that causes kidney failure and sometimes death.
Santé publique France and the Regional Health Agency (ARS) are investigating to identify the source of the contamination.
Unknown source
Initial investigation results show the seven children did not eat meals together. It also appears that patients do not all attend the same places, and the families reported consuming food from multiple sources.
ARS was informed on June 16 about the death of a 12-year-old living in Saint-Quentin from HUS.
Six other children living in or near Saint-Quentin were treated in Saint-Quentin hospital between June 13 and 18 for severe digestive symptoms and three of them had HUS.
Analyses are ongoing to identify the bacterial strain that infected each child and to determine whether these strains are related.
Data from Santé publique France shows 143 HUS cases in 2023 compared to 252 in 2022. There were several serious outbreaks in 2022. Data from 2024 is not yet available.
Health officials warned of possible person-to-person transmission and urged people to consult a doctor if they have bloody diarrhea. Other general advice included washing hands before preparing meals and not to give children under the age of 5 raw milk products.
About E. coli infections
Food contaminated with E. coli may not look, smell or taste bad. Anyone who has developed symptoms of E. coli infection should seek medical attention and tell their doctor about their possible food poisoning. Specific tests are required to diagnose the infections, which can mimic other illnesses.
The symptoms of E. coli infections vary for each person but often include severe stomach cramps and diarrhea, which is often bloody. Some patients may also have a fever. Most patients recover within five to seven days. Others can develop severe or life-threatening symptoms and complications.
About 5 percent to 10 percent of those diagnosed with E. coli infections develop a potentially life-threatening kidney failure complication, known as a hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Symptoms of HUS include fever, abdominal pain, feeling very tired, decreased frequency of urination, small unexplained bruises or bleeding, and pallor.
Some people with HUS recover within a few weeks, but some suffer permanent injuries or death. This condition can occur among people of any age but is most common in children younger than five years old because of their immature immune systems, older adults because of deteriorating immune systems, and people with compromised immune systems such as cancer patients.
People who experience HUS symptoms should immediately seek emergency medical care. People with HUS will likely be hospitalized because the condition can cause serious and ongoing problems such as hypertension, chronic kidney disease, brain damage and neurologic problems.
(To sign up for a free subscription to Food Safety News, click here)
