Health officials in California are sounding the alarm over an outbreak of a rare and deadly bacteria that has contaminated home-cooked food.
In two events on June 21 and 22 outside Fresno, approximately 30 members of the same family were exposed to botulism, to A rare foodborne pathogen that attacks the body’s nerves..
Eight people have been hospitalized, but authorities have not specified how many of those exposed became ill.
Authorities also did not disclose the specific foods involved, but urged the family not to eat any more of the contaminated products.
Now, the California Department of Public Health and the CDC have said they are working together on an investigation.
About 30 members of a single family outside Fresno, California, were exposed to a rare but deadly botulism from contaminated homemade food.
Botulism is caused by a toxin released by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, which is normally found in spores in soil, marine areas, and on the surface of foods such as fruits, vegetables, and shellfish.
These bacteria produce spores, which act as protective layers and are normally harmless.
However, closed, warm, humid spaces that lack oxygen (such as metal cans or plastic jars) can cause bacteria to release toxins that attack the central nervous system.
The bacteria thrives in canned foods because the canning process forces air out of the food, creating a favorable environment for C. botulinum to grow.
Dr. Rais Vohra, interim health officer for Fresno County, California, urged people to follow proper guidelines for home canning, although he also emphasized that botulism is rare in the U.S.
“Our local health department is working closely with area hospitals and state and national health agencies on this outbreak,” he said during a Press conference.
“While the risk to the general population is low, we are actively tracing those who may have consumed the contaminated food to ensure they receive timely follow-up and treatment.”
In another case of botulism, Claudia Albuquerque Celada (left) and Doralice Goes (right) became infected with the bacteria and became paralyzed after eating contaminated food.
The CDC estimates that only 200 cases of botulism occur in the United States each year, and that only 25 of them are due to food, making it extremely rare. Other causes include infections and, rarely, excessive injection of the botulinum toxin used in Botox.
Although the risk is low, investigators in California are looking for anyone else who may have consumed the contaminated food to make sure they are monitored and treated.
Signs of botulism include difficulty swallowing, muscle weakness, double vision, drooping eyelids, blurred vision, difficulty speaking, difficulty breathing, and difficulty moving the eyes.
Botulism can be fatal in 5 to 10 percent of cases. The disease is treated with antitoxins.
