Seventeen children and three adults required immediate medical attention after falling ill at a restaurant event. The incident occurred during a religious gathering at a dining establishment in Via Roggerone, Genoa, Italy, where individuals began experiencing symptoms like headaches, dizziness, and nausea, leading to a diagnosis of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Several ambulances were dispatched to transport the affected individuals to hospitals, with some being taken to Istituto Giannina Gaslini hospital and others to San Martino, known for its specialized hyperbaric chamber facilities. The poisoning was attributed to inhaling carbon monoxide from a malfunctioning heating system, and the hyperbaric chambers were utilized to increase oxygen levels to counter the effects of the poisoning.
Giannina Gaslini Hospital confirmed that all 20 victims of the carbon monoxide exposure were under observation at the medical facility, with the most severely affected individuals having returned from San Martino. The hospital communicated that all patients were in a stable condition and receiving necessary care, including oxygen therapy as required. Discharge from the hospital was scheduled after a minimum of 24 hours of monitoring.
In a separate incident last month, a suspected carbon monoxide leak at a Marks & Spencer store in Charlton, southeast London, prompted a response from firefighters who detected elevated carbon monoxide levels. Approximately 30 people were treated for chemical inhalation, with 11 individuals subsequently hospitalized for further evaluation. The company initiated an internal investigation to determine the cause of the leak.