Pasteur Institute scientists confirmed today the first case of a baby affected by salmonellosis in Spain who had consumed contaminated baby milk marketed by the Lactalis group. And they also mention another possible case in Greece, which is being investigated. They would be the first two cases outside France, where up to now 35 children have been affected.
This has been announced in a report published in Eurosurveillance signed by 16 scientists from Pasteur and the Public Health Agency of France that also indicates that contaminated milk from the Lactalis plant was exported “To 66 countries, including 12 from the EU”.
"The two cases involved children who drank the milk in question," said François-Xavier Weill, a bacteriologist at the Pasteur Institute in Paris. And he added that "the Spanish case has been confirmed with DNA tests." "The Greek case is not, but the signs are there," he said.
In France it was reported until today of 35 infected children, 18 of whom were hospitalized, but all have already been discharged and are well.
On the other hand, sources of Health consulted by Europa Press, affirm that they are in permanent contact with the Spanish Agency of Consumption, Food Security and Nutrition (AECOSAN), which keeps open alert, but that, so far "there is no official notification in this case "by any Autonomous Community.
Salmonellosis, what is it?
Salmonellosis is a gastrointestinal infection caused by the salmonella bacteria, which in 95% of cases is transmitted through food, mainly raw and undercooked meats and eggs.
The symptoms of gastrointestinal salmonellosis are vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, headache and high fever. It lasts between 4 and 7 days and in most cases does not require treatment, unless complications arise such as severe dehydration that requires hospitalization.
Withdrawals of contaminated milk
Recall that on December 11, the French Government ordered the mass withdrawal of more than 600 batches of infant formula milks manufactured at the Lactalis milk group plant in Craon (France) since February 15 due to salmonellosis risk.
After that, Lactalis Nutrición Iberia announced that, as a precaution, it was withdrawing several batches of powdered milk formulas of the Puleva Baby, Damira and Sanutri brand from the Spanish market. Ten days later he announced a new massive withdrawal of products manufactured in France that affected an additional 720 lots, given the risk of contamination of salmonellosis. We remember that withdrawals only affect infant milk powders and not to liquid milks.
However, despite having been ordered to withdraw, it was learned that milk continued to be sold in large stores in France.
This Friday the French Minister of Economy and Finance, Bruno Le Maire summoned the president of Lactalis, Emmanuel Besnier, to give explanations and accused the company of having "seriously failed". At the end of the meeting, Le Maire said Lactalis you will have to remove all infant milk that has left Craon's production lines, regardless of the date it was manufactured.
