More than 600 people have suffered gastroenteritis after drinking tap water in two municipalities in the Haute-Loire region, the prefecture and the regional health agency (ARS) announced on Thursday, September 12, which is continuing its analyses to identify the germs at the origin of the epidemic.
In total, 656 people, or 13% of the inhabitants of the municipalities of Séauve-sur-Semène and Saint-Didier-en-Velay, declared “characteristic symptoms of gastroenteritis (abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting and fever in some of them) most of the time with resolution in twenty-four hours”report in a joint press release the ARS, the Haute-Loire prefecture and Public Health France.
“The large number of patients whose only exposure is the consumption of water distributed [dans ces communes] points to the hypothesis of contamination of the water network”they add.
Current analysis
During the investigation carried out by Public Health France from 3 to 10 September, 191 people (including 145 patients) reported having perceived a problem with the quality of the water distributed (abnormal colour, taste or smell) during the month of August, with the majority during the last week of August. The rapid decline in the number of cases since 2 September points to contamination. “probably an occasional occurrence in the last days of August”.
Analysis carried out since then shows “consistent results”and water “can be consumed safely”ARS and the prefecture assure that analyses are being carried out to identify the germs causing this epidemic.
However, it is ” likely “ that these germs can “causing secondary cases of gastroenteritis by person-to-person transmission”warns the ARS, which recommends respecting certain hygiene standards, such as hand washing.
