“The largest epidemic ever described in France“: health authorities are warning about HUS, hemolytic uremic syndrome, a rare disease that affects the blood, kidneys and sometimes the brain and heart. At least 75 children have had symptoms since January, according to Public Health. Two children in died, others are in a coma and the culprit was found in the presence of the Escherichia coli bacterium, detected in frozen pizzas of the Buitoni brand, of the Fraîch’Up range, according to the first analyzes. the other families are awaiting the conclusions of this investigation, like Mickaël and Leslie, the parents of Bérénice, 7 years old.
A Buitoni pizza on Wednesday noon was Bérénice’s ritual with her mother and her big sister. One Wednesday evening, at the end of February, she experiences intestinal symptoms, such as gastroenteritis: stomach aches, diarrhea. His father, Mickaël, then takes him to the doctor the next morning. He tells the rest on franceinfo: “The doctor sent us to the emergency room. And behind, it was the descent into hell. The kidneys wouldn’t work, it attacked the heart. There were two cardiac arrests, including one with cardiac massage for an hour. Bérénice is sedated, placed in a coma for twelve days now.
We hope with all our heart to recover her in the best possible health, that she is alive. Already, it will be a big step for us.”
According to the doctors of the CHRU of Tours, Bérénice suffers from a severe form of the haemolytic and uraemic syndrome, caused by this bacterium. His father now tells us about the back and forth between the hospital, the house and the school of the big one, as well as all the steps with Public Health France to find where this bacterium comes from. “We were contacted by Public Health France the day after admission to hospital. They asked us questions about our diet, where did we go shopping… They are still on the investigation, on the analyses, even if they are still moving towards Buitoni pizzas. It would be a trend, but we are sure of nothing yet.“
Like Mickaël and his wife Leslie, dozens of families in France are waiting for these results.
What to do in case of symptoms?
If Santé Publique France announced on Wednesday March 30 that a link was confirmed between these pizzas and these cases of serious food poisoning, the investigation of patients as well as directly on the production lines of the Buitoni brand is continuing. The authorities have already launched a massive recall of these frozen pizzas concerned “Fraîch’Up”, since mid-March, asking consumers to destroy these products.
The authorities point out the need to consult a doctor in the event of the appearance, within ten days after eating the pizza, of diarrhea, abdominal pain or vomiting. The consultation is also essential if, within a fortnight, signs of great fatigue, pallor, or a decrease in the volume of urine, which become darker, appear.