Key Developments as of March 5, 2012

• According to information available to date, 897 cases of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning have been reported to the surveillance system since September 1, 2011, including 56 cases between February 20 and March 4, 2012. Since September 1, 2011, 2,891 people have been exposed to CO fumes, 501 of whom were hospitalized.

• A mass poisoning incident involving 15 people occurred at a daycare center following prolonged use of a portable space heater.

• Two deaths from CO poisoning have occurred in the past two weeks, one of which was linked to the use of a generator.

• To prevent such poisonings, specific prevention messages regarding the proper use of portable space heaters and generators have been developed by the National Institute for Prevention and Health Education (INPES) and the Directorate General of Health (DGS):- Never use combustion-based space heaters continuously, - If you must install a generator, it must be placed outside buildings,