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FRANCE-HEALTH-CHILDREN-JUSTICE
French pupils ill from suspected poisoning during running race
MOREZ, France, Oct 4, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – French authorities were
investigating Friday how over a dozen pupils fell suddenly ill from suspected
poisoning during a running race, with one teenager still in hospital.
Sixteen children from a group of about 80 taking part in a cross-country
race near the eastern town of Morbier were taken ill Thursday for pain,
convulsions and discomfort after visiting a refreshment stand, officials
said.
One girl, who identified herself as Soline, told AFP she saw another girl
fall to the ground after drinking a syrup.
“She had some sort of seizure. Her eyes were moving all over the place.”
Five were hospitalised, of whom one girl was stable and still receiving
treatment on Friday, Jean-Francois Bauvois, an official from the surrounding
Jura department, told AFP.
An investigation has been opened, said Lionel Pascal of the regional
prosecutor’s office.
BSS/AFP/SSS/1834 hrs