| During the winter 2000/2001, several outbreaks associated with the consumption of shellfish were declared in France. Following these events, a close cooperation was organized between administrations and laboratories (DGAL, DPMA, InVS, AFSSA, Ifremer, CHU-Dijon and CNC) to gather competences and to manage the situation. This report synthesizes the information collected during these outbreaks. From the outset, the epidemiologic investigations directed the research towards viral contamination and shellfish as contamination source. Several outbreaks were investigated. Oysters and stools samples from ill patients were analysed by RT-PCR for viruses (enterovirus, rotavirus, norovirus and astrovirus). The genic amplification was done by using the same primers in... |
