Botulism: at least five people are in critical condition after consuming artificial treatments

2024-09-10 07:32:26

A year after the disaster in Bordeaux, new cases of food-borne botulism have been reported. Five people are hospitalized in intensive care or transferred to intensive care after consuming local treatments, the Director General of Health (DGS) said on Monday.

If botulism must also be confirmed scientifically, these are cases of “clinical presentation of food botulism”, characterized by “damage to the cranial pairs which can progress towards descending paralysis”, explains the release publication.

“All cases share the same diet, where they are essentially the same product, wild garlic pesto in the canning area, specifically DGS. The investigations carried out show the lack of control of the purification process of these canned goods. »

The body recommends recalling products suspected of being the cause of the damage. Reserves are sold at many events in Indre-et-Loire including the Plant and Spring Festival at the Château de la Bourdaisière in Montlouis-sur-Loire, March 30 and 31 and April 1, the “Nature en fête” Festival at the Château de Cangé in Saint-Avertin, April 13 and 14, Garlic and Basil Fair in Tours, July 26 and Tomato and Flavors Festival at Château de la Bourdaisière in Montlouis-sur-Loire, September 7 and 8.

Symptoms to watch out for

Botulism occurs after incubation of a few hours to a few days, depending on the state of contamination. The occurrence of other cases in the coming days cannot be ruled out.

Symptoms include, to varying degrees: early signs of food poisoning which may last for a while (abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea), eye damage (failure to swallow, blurred or double vision), dry mouth with lack of movement or even speech, or neurological symptoms (incorrect movements, more or less paralysis of the muscles). There is usually no fever.

One death in 2023

Several customers of a Bordeaux bar were hospitalized following botulinum toxin poisoning, contracted in a restaurant in September 2023. One person died.

VideoA case of botulism in Bordeaux: what could be poisonous?

An American couple told Le Parisien that they came close to death after eating sardines that had not been protected. The leader of the establishment, who said he had followed the recommendations, was placed in police custody.