British School Pupils Among 197 Stricken by Severe Food Poisoning at French Ski Resort
Students from a British private school are among nearly two hundred youngsters who have been hit by a severe outbreak of food poisoning at a popular French ski resort. The incident has caused significant disruption and concern, with authorities scrambling to manage the situation.
Outbreak Details and Response
At least 197 children staying at the UCPA residence in La Plagne 1800 in the Savoie region fell ill with gastroenteritis on Tuesday, according to local media reports. Among the sick children is a group of students from a private co-educational school in Bath, as confirmed by French media. It remains unclear how many British students have been affected and what their current condition is, with The Daily Mail having approached the school for comment.
Students from Canada, France, and Belgium have also been impacted by this outbreak. Additionally, at least five teachers and several other members of staff are reported to be exhibiting symptoms of vomiting and diarrhoea. Those who have fallen ill are being treated on-site, with some youngsters placed on IV drips as authorities transformed the hotel into a makeshift hospital ward to handle the crisis.
Currently, there are 409 children and 30 accompanying adults staying at the centre, which hosts summer camps and school ski trips. Firefighters were mobilised to the scene this morning to assist with evacuation efforts, while several doctors were dispatched to provide medical support.
Authorities and Historical Concerns
Mayor Jean-Luc Boch confirmed that the incident appears to be a severe case of gastroenteritis spreading among the children. He added that authorities are awaiting advice from the Regional Health Authority before making further decisions. "We'll have to make a decision, and we want to avoid a lockdown and the building's closure," he stated, highlighting the delicate balance between public health and operational continuity.
According to several witnesses, these cases of gastroenteritis are not the first at the UCPA establishment in La Plagne 1800. The head of sports at a French high school, known only as Steeve, revealed that this was not the initial time his students fell ill at the holiday centre. Speaking to local news outlet Le Dauphine, he expressed frustration: "Back in January, when we came, fifteen kids got sick during their stay. And now it's happening again. We're so frustrated!"
He further criticised the UCPA management, alleging they blamed the school for bringing the disease. "We're used to all this. Just yesterday at 4:30 pm, a child vomited before even getting on the chairlift. We had to take him back to the UCPA, and there were already other kids who were sick. These are trips to the biggest resorts in the world that all these kids look forward to, and some of them have never even skied in their lives. Now, everything's ruined," he lamented.
Recent Tragic Incident in the Area
This food poisoning outbreak follows a separate tragic incident in the French Alps, where a British snowboarder died after plunging 330 feet from a rocky ledge in an off-piste area near La Plagne. A ski patrol at La Plagne was first alerted to the disappearance of a 43-year-old man on Saturday. An initial investigation established that he had last been seen using the ski lifts in the Bécoin area.
Meanwhile, an alpinist in the area reported a grim discovery to mountain rescue after finding a victim off-piste. Ski patrollers, alongside the mountain rescue team from the Modane centre, rushed to the scene. Despite their efforts, the man in his forties did not survive, and his body was evacuated by helicopter.
The Modane CRS confirmed earlier reports, stating, "The victim, who was alone, was found in the late afternoon in the Bécoin area. She fell about 100 meters from a rocky ledge." Authorities have opened an investigation to determine the exact cause of death, adding to the sombre atmosphere in the region amidst the ongoing health crisis.
