the essential
More than 125 children were mysteriously contaminated in Fère-Champenoise in Marne. Since May 30, 4 waves of illness have been recorded, without the origin of the problem being determined with certainty. But the latest analyzes carried out by health authorities revealed traces of acetylene in the playground.
What could have made 126 children and members of the teaching team at the Fère-Champenoise primary school (Marne) sick? After a first wave of discomfort (headaches, nausea and itching), the possibility of carbon monoxide poisoning was favored, but new cases appeared a few days later, while the school was closed, ruling out carbon monoxide. The ARS had also ruled out the hypothesis of food poisoning or linked to the water fountain. The discomfort is also not linked to allergenic plants, according to the Atmo report.
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In total, 4 different waves of syncope were recorded in the Marne, some students even had to be placed on oxygen in hospital, a “very anxiety-provoking” situation for families. “From tomorrow, my children will no longer go to school, until we know the cause,” declared a mother in the columns of The union.
This Monday, June 17, a new serious path seems to be emerging. TF1 reveals that traces of a toxic gas, known as acetylene, were detected in the playground. It now remains for the teams in charge of the investigation to confirm this hypothesis and to determine how such a gas could have spread in a primary school without any work in progress. In fact, acetylene can be present in welding and cutting workshops, but there was no work at the Fère-Champenoise school.
The investigation continues and the town’s nursery and primary schools remain closed until further notice.
