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Presumed Mass Illness following a Pyridine Fumes Incident: Environmental Contamination versus Mass Hysteria

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2012

Marcel Van der Auwera ,
Rudi Beckers ,
Katleen Devue ,
Petra Claes ,
Axelle De Cock  and
Nico Deleu
Marcel Van der Auwera*
Affiliation:
Emergency Department and Prehospital Emergency Team, University Hospital, Vrije Universiteit, Brussels, Belgium
Rudi Beckers
Affiliation:
Emergency Department and Prehospital Emergency Team, University Hospital, Vrije Universiteit, Brussels, Belgium
Katleen Devue
Affiliation:
Emergency Department and Prehospital Emergency Team, University Hospital, Vrije Universiteit, Brussels, Belgium
Petra Claes
Affiliation:
Emergency Department and Prehospital Emergency Team, University Hospital, Vrije Universiteit, Brussels, Belgium
Axelle De Cock
Affiliation:
Emergency Department and Prehospital Emergency Team, University Hospital, Vrije Universiteit, Brussels, Belgium
Nico Deleu
Affiliation:
Emergency Department and Prehospital Emergency Team, University Hospital, Vrije Universiteit, Brussels, Belgium
*
Marcel Van der Auwera Emergency DepartmentUniversity Hospital VUBLaarbeeklaan 1011090 JetteBelgium E-mail: van.der.auwera.marcel@telenet.be
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Abstract

This case study is based on a chemical spill in a warehouse in Belgium. Two victims were hospitalized, and a confluence of symptoms among the warehouse personnel had to be managed medically. An on-scene medical station and medical management team were deployed. A total of 51 victims were examined. Medical, political, and labor management arguments occurred. Medical findings and results from a thorough investigation helped prevent a presumed illness epidemic. The primary goals of the medical management of victims must include ensuring the health and safety of the personnel involved.

Keywords

chemicalscontaminationexposurefumeslabor managementmass illnesspyridine
Type
Case Report
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 22 , Issue 2 , April 2007 , pp. 140 - 143
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2007

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