French authorities open judicial inquiry into food poisoning of children
A judicial inquiry has been opened alongside a health investigation, into the severe food poisoning cases in northern France since 12 June. This comes after the death of a 12-year-old girl and reports of at least 19 children who fell ill.
The prosecutor's office in Saint-Quentin announced on Monday that a preliminary judicial inquiry for involuntary homicide had been opened last week, alongside a health investigation.
"This preliminary investigation was opened against unknown persons on charges of involuntary manslaughter, involuntary injury, endangering the lives of others and deception regarding goods presenting a danger to human life," according to a press release from the public prosecutor's office.
Authorities in the Aisne department announced that the number of victims had risen to 19 after another child had been admitted to hospital with symptoms of food poisoning.
French health chiefs identify E coli as cause of major food poisoning outbreak
Eight of these young patients developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a serious complication characterised in particular by acute renal failure, one of whom, a 12-year-old girl, died on 16 June.
Currently, six children who contracted HUS are still receiving dialysis, while ten other children have been able to leave the hospital and return home, while receiving "continuous medical monitoring," the prefecture said in a statement.
Read more on RFI EnglishRead also:Frozen pizza blamed for deadly E coli infections sweeping FranceFrench brand recalls yoghurts contaminated with E coli bacteriaWoman dies in Bordeaux botulism outbreak linked to sardines
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