On June 22, two hospitals in Bordeaux reported six cases of bloody diarrhea and two cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) to the Aquitaine Regional Health Agency (Cire Aquitaine). An epidemiological investigation was immediately launched in collaboration with the Regional Health Agency (ARS).

As of June 24, a total of 10 cases of bloody diarrhea or HUS had been identified. Eight of these cases are geographically clustered: 7 reside in the same suburb of Bordeaux, Bègles, and the last in a Bordeaux neighborhood near this suburb, Nansouty.Among the 8 clustered cases, 5 have HUS and 3 have bloody diarrhea. They include 6 women and 2 men, aged 31 to 78. All were hospitalized.

Seven of the eight clustered cases were interviewed. All seven visited an early childhood recreation center in Bègles on June 8 during an open house. Six of them reported having consumed sprouted seeds during this visit, specifically used as a garnish on a gazpacho. It is not known whether the seventh person who visited the daycare center consumed sprouted seeds. Epidemiological investigations are ongoing for the eighth case.

An EHEC infection has been confirmed in 5 patients. A strain O104:H4 resistant to numerous antibiotics has been isolated in 2 of these patients. Microbiological diagnosis of the other cases is underway.

A traceability investigation is underway by the Departmental Directorate for Public Health to determine the source of the seeds consumed by the patients during their visit to the recreation center.

The E. coli strain isolated from one of the patients with HUS has the same characteristics as the strain responsible for a large-scale outbreak of EHEC infections linked to the consumption of sprouted seeds that occurred in Germany in May and June 2011.

Anyone who visited the Bègles Early Childhood Recreation Center during the Open House on June 8 and is experiencing bloody diarrhea is advised to consult their primary care physician or call the 15 hotline or SOS Médecins.