Overview

• Since June 12, eight children in Saint-Quentin have been hospitalized with severe digestive symptoms, five of whom developed hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS).
• The fatality was linked to hemolytic-uremic syndrome, a rare complication of E. coli infection that can cause acute kidney failure.
• Santé publique France and the Agence régionale de santé des Hauts-de-France are conducting trace-back investigations and laboratory analyses to pinpoint a common source.
• Two local butcheries were closed preventively on June 20 after officials found that the affected children had consumed meat or meat products from those establishments.
• Preliminary tests have ruled out water contamination, with authorities expecting bacterial strain analysis results by early next week.