Have you ever heard of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS)? This serious infectious disease is usually caused by bacteria belonging to the Escherichia coli (E. coli) family. It is the main cause of acute renal failure in children under 3 years old.
As of April 13, 53 cases of HUS or serious infection, linked to bacteria E.coli with similar characteristics, have been identified, and 26 additional cases are under investigation. In addition, 2 children died as a result of this infection.
As part of the investigations carried out by the authorities on cases of severe haemolytic and uraemic syndromes, the analyzes (epidemiological, microbiological and traceability) carried out led to a link with the consumption of frozen pizzas from the Fraîch’Up range of the Buitoni brand. Given this situation, the authorities are asking people who hold Fraîch’Up pizzas from the Buitoni brand not to consume them and destroy them. Each household is invited to ensure that its freezer does not contain any. Provided with a photo of the packaging with the product references (Best Before Date, bar code number, batch number, production time), consumers can call the telephone number provided by the company to get a refund: 0800 22 32 42
>> It is also recommended that people holding frozen pizzas in their freezer that have been separated from their box, and whose range and brand cannot be formally identified or clearly known, also destroy them and above all not consume them. .
>> Should we be worried? If there are no symptoms, there is no need to worry. However, people who within 3-4 days after eating frozen pizza (10 days maximum) have diarrhea, abdominal pain or vomiting, are invited to consult their attending physician as soon as possible by notifying him of this consumption and the recall of the products by the company and to keep the packaging of the product.
Case of SHU in France: update on April 13
These 53 cases of HUS occurred in 52 children and 1 adult, who presented symptoms between 01/18/2022 and 03/16/2022. These 53 cases occurred in 12 regions of metropolitan France: Hauts-de-France (11 cases), Ile-de-France (9 cases), New Aquitaine (8 cases), Pays de la Loire (7 cases), Brittany ( 6 cases), Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (2 cases) [-1 cas depuis le point de situation du 06/04/2022 après résultat complémentaire]Grand Est (2 cases), Occitanie (2 cases), Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (2 cases) and Center Val-de-Loire (2 cases), Bourgogne Franche-Comté (1 case).
The 52 sick children are aged from 1 to 17 years with a median age of 7 years; 23 (44%) are female; 46 (88%) presented with HUS, 6 (12%) with STEC gastroenteritis. Two children died. The adult did not present with HUS.
How to protect against hemolytic uremic syndrome?
the Ministry of Health explain that “contamination is most often food: ingestion of food eaten raw or undercooked“. The most “at risk” foods for children are minced meat and products made from raw milk (yogurts, cheeses, etc.).
To protect against hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), health authorities recommend some good reflexes:
- Wash your hands well before preparing meals,
- Thoroughly cook meats (especially beef and minced meat),
- Before the age of 5 years, avoid the consumption of raw milk, cheeses made from raw milk and dairy products made from raw milk,
- Do not eat flour-based preparations raw; cake dough, pie dough, cookie dough…,
- Thoroughly wash fruits, vegetables and aromatic herbs before consuming them,
- In the fridge, keep raw food, cooked food, leftovers, prepared meals, etc. separately.
- Thoroughly clean kitchen counters and utensils after use.
Vomiting, diarrhea and stomach pain
Hemolytic-uremic syndrome: what are the symptoms to recognize? HUS caused by E. Coli manifests itself through diarrhea often accompanied by blood (bloody diarrhea), abdominal pain (stomach ache) and sometimes vomiting. Faced with these symptoms, it is best to call the emergency services – 112 or 15 on the phone.
In about 10% of cases, the disease progresses to a severe form with anemia, thrombocytopenia (low blood platelet count) and acute renal failure. The HUS mortality rate is less than 1% in France.
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