Key Developments as of November 14, 2011

• According to information available to date, 148 cases of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning have been reported to the surveillance system, including 34 cases between October 31 and November 13. Since September 1, 2011, 465 people have been exposed to carbon monoxide fumes, 67 of whom were hospitalized.

• Although the weekly number of cases has been gradually increasing since September 1, 2011, it remains below the level observed during the same period in 2010.

• Following the floods in the Var region, a couple died from carbon monoxide poisoning. They had remained in their basement while a motor pump was running. Since September 1, 2011, five deaths have been reported to the surveillance system. All of these fatal accidental domestic poisonings were linked to the improper use of combustion appliances or a malfunction in a heating system (boiler or flue gas exhaust ducts).

• The Nord-Pas-de-Calais committee of the Association for the Prevention of Air Pollution (APPA) has created a video aimed at preventing the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, available on their website.