A second child has died as part of the upsurge in cases of contaminations serious E. coli bacteria reported since the beginning of February, announced on Saturday March 12, 2022, the agency Health public France, which insists on ” prevention food risks ».
As of March 11, 2022, 26 cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) “related to E. coli bacteria with similar characteristics have been identified” in children aged 1 to 15 and two children died, Public Health France said in a statement, adding that “ 22 additional cases are under investigation”.
In the West, four cases have been identified in the Pays de la Loire and three in Brittany.
Bloody diarrhea among the symptoms
According to the Pasteur Institute, strains of so-called enterohemorrhagic E. coli (ECEH) “cause bloody diarrhea and produce a potent toxin that causes hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). » The other symptoms can be: severe stomach cramps, vomiting, nausea, headaches… The Pasteur Institute specifies that “Symptoms caused by EHEC (enterohaemorrhagic E. coli) appear between 3 and 8 days after infection. »
Most varieties of E. coli bacteria “do not pose a danger to humans, but some may carry genes that allow them to cause the disease. »
Public Health France explains these bacteria responsible for this syndrome “are present in the intestines of many ruminant animals (cows, calves, goats, sheep, deer, etc.) and are eliminated by excrement which can then contaminate the environment (water, manure, soil) and food. These bacteria tolerate cold well (survival in a refrigerator or freezer), but are destroyed by cooking. »
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Raw meat, poorly cleaned vegetables or fruit in question
The consumption of animal products (meat or dairy products) that are poorly cooked or eaten raw can trigger this contamination. “Fresh fruits and vegetables that have been in contact with EHEC may also be at risk”adds the Pasteur Institute.
At this stage, the epidemiological investigation has not made it possible to incriminate a particular source of contamination. Also, the health authorities are renewing the general recommendations for the prevention of food risks, especially for children under 16: hand washing before preparing meals, cooking red meats thoroughly, raw milk cheeses must not be consumed by children under 5 years old, vegetables, salads or fruit must be washed or peeled, kitchen utensils and work surfaces must be washed, leftover food must be quickly put in the fridge…
Public Health France indicates that “The health authorities, who are monitoring the development of the situation on a daily basis, are fully mobilized to identify the source of this contamination and put in place the appropriate health measures as quickly as possible to avoid the occurrence of new cases. »