Key Developments as of March 19, 2012

• According to information available to date, 957 cases of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning have been reported to the surveillance system since September 1, 2011, including 48 cases between March 5 and March 18, 2012. Since September 1, 2011, 3,130 people have been exposed to CO fumes, 524 of whom were hospitalized.

• Power outages resulting from exceptional weather conditions in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region have led to a surge in CO poisoning linked to portable space heaters and generators.

• During this period of inclement weather, one death from CO poisoning occurred in Nord-Pas-de-Calais in connection with the use of a generator placed in a garage.

• To prevent such poisonings, specific prevention messages focusing on 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 for Health (DGS).