British school children are among dozens of holidaymakers who have fallen ill in a suspected food poisoning outbreak at the La Plagne ski resort in France. The outbreak has led to hundreds being evacuated and confined to a sports centre.
At least 409 children, 30 accompanying adults and 70 staff members are under quarantine. Symptoms include vomiting and diarrhoea, with some children requiring intravenous drips due to dehydration. Tourists from Canada, Belgium, France and the UK have been affected.
The cause of the illness is not yet known, but a gastroenteritis virus is suspected. The outbreak is believed to have spread since Monday, with 250 cases reported last week. Teachers from a Parisian high school said they were told it might be related to pipes or carpets in the rooms.
Town mayor Jean-Luc Boch said checks had been carried out on the water supply but found no bacteria. He added that the incident appears to be a severe case of gastroenteritis spreading among children. The Regional Health Agency has been contacted for a response.
