Suspicion of FBD, 3 dead and 114 poisoned in Florence

Two residents of a care home (RSA) in Settignano, a suburb of Florence, succumbed to gastrointestinal illness after being hospitalised at ‘Santa Maria Nuova’ hospital. The victims, aged 88 and 89, were initially reported by La Nazione, and a third victim, an 89-year-old man hospitalized at ‘Careggi’ hospital, was later added to the tally. Other guests may have exhibited symptoms, though not necessitating treatment. An initial reconstruction suggests that some guests experienced gastrointestinal distress following mealtimes. Law enforcement agencies NAS, personnel from the Hygiene Department of the Local Health Company (ASL) Tuscany Centre, and ambulances alerted by RSA operators arrived at the facility. The suspected food poisoning outbreak is believed to have also affected guests from three other retirement homes in the Fiorentino area, all of which are owned by the same group that also owns the RSA of Settignano. A note reports that the four RSAs have the same cooking centre in common, which has been suspended. The ASL Tuscany Centre has initiated an epidemiological investigation into 114 cases of gastroenteritis in 173 guests from four RSAs in Florence and the surrounding area. It is hypothesised that the outbreak, which began on 9 February, was triggered by a case of suspected food poisoning.