A 12-year-old girl has died and seven other children have been taken to hospital in an outbreak of severe food poisoning centred around a northern French town. Symptoms began to emerge on 12 June in and around Saint-Quentin, south of Lille, with the children rushed to hospital over the following days. The cause of the outbreak is yet to be identified, as the children, aged 1-12, are not thought to have mixed in the same groups. The girl died on Monday from a rare condition called haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) linked to acute kidney failure,according to the local prefect in the Aisne area.The most common cause of the infection is E.coli bacteria. The latest case was reported on Wednesday evening, the regional health authority in Hauts-de France said. All eight children were admitted to hospital with severe digestive symptoms, such as bloody diarrhea, and five of them had developed HUS, the authority said. Health authorities are conducting biological analysis in an attempt to identify the bacterial strain involved in each case. They said there was no indication the children ate meals together and they have ruled out any issues with local tap water, which "can be used for drinking and for all everyday purposes". The infectious disease (HUS) is most often caused by E.coli food poisoning, authorities said. However, as the families involved had sourced their food from a variety of places, the origin of contamination is proving hard to find. Food inspectors were investigating whether contaminated meat was behind the outbreak. Several butchers in Saint-Quentin were closed on Thursday, local news outlet L'Aisne nouvelle reported. One butcher said all his meat, marinades and spices had been taken away to be checked. Parents have been told to be vigilant and ensure strict hygiene at home, with authorities advising regular hand-washing, washing of fruit and vegetables, thoroughly cooking meat and separating raw and cooked food.
Girl dies in food poisoning outbreak in northern France
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"Food Poisoning Outbreak in Northern France Claims Life of 12-Year-Old Girl"
Bbc News
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TruthLens AI Summary
A tragic food poisoning outbreak in northern France has resulted in the death of a 12-year-old girl and hospitalized seven other children aged between 1 and 12. The symptoms of the outbreak began to appear on June 12 in the vicinity of Saint-Quentin, located south of Lille. The children were admitted to hospitals over the subsequent days, with the girl succumbing to a rare condition known as haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS), which is linked to acute kidney failure. Local health authorities have stated that the precise cause of the outbreak remains unidentified, noting that the affected children did not appear to have been in contact with each other or shared meals. This suggests that the source of the contamination may be more widespread or varied rather than stemming from a single point of origin. The regional health authority has reported that the latest case emerged on Wednesday evening, highlighting the ongoing nature of the investigation into this alarming incident.
Health officials are conducting thorough biological analyses to determine the specific bacterial strain responsible for the illnesses, with E.coli being the most common suspect linked to such infections. Despite the children consuming food from different sources, authorities are exploring the possibility of contaminated meat as a potential cause. As part of their response, several butchers in Saint-Quentin have been closed for inspections, and all meat and associated products have been removed for testing. In light of these events, parents have been urged to maintain heightened hygiene practices at home, which includes regular handwashing, properly washing fruits and vegetables, ensuring that meat is thoroughly cooked, and keeping raw and cooked foods separate. The local health authority continues to monitor the situation closely while emphasizing the importance of food safety and hygiene amidst this distressing outbreak.
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