France is currently facing the biggest epidemic of E. Coli bacteria it has ever known.
Sometimes present on raw meat, raw dairy products, but also flour, the toxins contained in this bacterium can have serious effects on young children, even leading to their death.
The head of the National Reference Center (CNR) Escherichia coli explained to
20 Minutes
how to guard against any infection, but also how to identify worrying symptoms.
Infections with E. Coli bacteria are not new, but over the past month, they have multiplied.
41 serious cases have been identified in France and 34 additional were being assessed on Wednesday.
"This is the biggest epidemic in France for twenty-five years," says François-Xavier Weill, medical biologist, head of the National Reference Center (CNR) Escherichia coli, Shigella and Salmonella at the Institut Pasteur.
Health authorities confirmed on Wednesday that the surge in cases was linked to a contaminated batch of Nestlé brand Buitoni pizza.
While two children have already lost their lives in February because of this bacterium, it is worth remembering how it is transmitted, what the risks are and above all how to protect yourself against it.
How do you catch E. Coli bacteria?
To understand how we catch this bacterium, we must first know where it comes from.
Escherichia Coli bacteria, producing Shiga-toxin, live in the digestive tract of ruminants such as cows, goats and sheep, but also deer or deer.
In most cases, people are contaminated when they consume raw or undercooked food from these animals: their meat, but also their milk and processed products such as soft cheeses.
“Contamination generally occurs because there has been a problem during the food preparation chain,” says François-Xavier Weill.
This means that not all meats and dairy products carry this bacteria.
The feces of these animals can also transmit this bacterium.
"Very rarely, it can therefore be found on raw plants for which manure has been used as fertilizer", gives the example of the CNR expert.
Contamination can occur through untreated spring water or through direct contact with an animal: a child caressing it and then bringing its hand to its mouth.
In the context of the current epidemic, it turns out that it is the pizza dough that is contaminated and therefore possibly the flour.
“It's all new for us in France, but this kind of contamination has been classic in the United States and Canada for ten years, specifies the medical biologist.
In North America, contamination of grain by wild or domestic ruminants in the field or when grain is wetted with untreated water is suspected.
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How to avoid contamination?
“First of all, hand washing is essential before meals, reminds François-Xavier Weill.
As for meat, Escherichia coli does not like heat”.
For children under 5, we forget the rare meat, and we cook the steaks to heart.
They are also not given soft raw milk cheese.
The other recommendations are quite basic: for vegetables, a good washing or even peeling is not too much and we do not drink water that has not been treated.
"As part of the current epidemic, it is recommended not to consume raw or undercooked flour preparations".
It's sad, but we forget for a while the scraping of cookie dough or chocolate cakes.
What are the risks ?
Just because you ate a Buitoni pizza from the contaminated lot doesn't necessarily mean you're going to get sick.
Quite simply because your stomach and your immune defenses will first act as a barrier.
“At the extreme ages of life, these immune defenses are more immature, which is why very young children and the elderly are more likely to fall ill,” explains François-Xavier Weill.
Falling ill with Escherichia Coli bacteria first manifests as diarrhoea, often bloody, stomach cramps and vomiting within three to ten days of ingesting contaminated food.
The symptoms may stop there, but in 10% of cases, a week after this episode of diarrhea, it is possible that the toxin contained in the bacteria (Shiga-toxin) causes haemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).
“It is the action of the toxin inside the vessels which will damage them and create clots in various organs including the kidneys which are very sensitive”, schematizes the doctor from the CNR.
In 1-3% of cases, this can lead to the death of the patient.
“In 30% of cases, there is a risk of permanent renal sequelae which will require dialysis in the future or even a kidney transplant.
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What good attitude to adopt?
First of all, check that you have not purchased one of the contaminated Buitoni pizzas from the Fraîch'Up range.
"We must empty the freezers of these time bombs", insists the doctor.
If you or your child have eaten a batch of contaminated pizza, but no symptoms appear within 15 days, you are no longer in danger.
If the first symptoms of diarrhea appear, contact your doctor, telling him that you have consumed a contaminated batch.
Contamination with the bacterium Escherichia coli remains rare and the link is not always obvious.
Above all, do not take antibiotics for self-medication.
"They risk destroying the bacteria too quickly and releasing the famous toxin", warns François-Xavier Weill.
Even if it is quite inconvenient, also avoid taking medication against diarrhea, which slows down intestinal transit.
“Diarrhea also eliminates E. Coli bacteria.
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Health
E.coli bacteria
Disease
Pizza
Contamination
Meat
Milk
Child
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