News as of December 7, 2011

In BEH No. 45-46 dated Dec. 6, the article titled "Exceptional Weather Event and Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: From Surveillance to Public Health Action, France, Southwest, January 2009" presents the extent of CO poisoning that occurred in the wake of Storm Klaus and the public health measures implemented following this episode. "The passage of Storm Klaus through southwestern France in January 2009 left approximately 1.7 million customers without electricity and led to an unprecedented increase in carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning cases. In the wake of the storm, 109 cases of CO poisoning (4 expected) were reported, involving 295 people (14 expected), including 4 deaths. Rural communities, single-family homes, and those equipped with electric heating were the most affected. The poisonings were predominantly (74%) linked to the use of generators as a temporary source of electricity. This study demonstrated an increase in the number of cases as well as the specific circumstances under which CO poisonings occurred in connection with power outages. This outbreak led to the subsequent development of a prevention plan incorporating informational materials targeting the general public, initiatives aimed at generator rental and sales companies, and the inclusion of prevention messages in Météo-France’s weather advisories."