A botulism outbreak killed two people and hospitalized 14 in Diamante, south of Italy. All the victims had eaten, between August 1 and August 4, a sausage sandwich with broccoli in oil purchased from a street vendor, which likely caused the illness. Of the 14 people hospitalized, six are in intensive care.
Investigations are currently ongoing, and nine people are on the list of suspects. Apart from the vendor and the producers of the food, five doctors are under investigation for not being able to detect the disease in the people who eventually died.Italy is the country in Europe with the most reported cases of botulism, due to the tradition of preserving vegetables in oil using artisanal methods, which is one of the causes of the spread of the illness.
It is caused by Clostridium botulinum, a bacterium that produces a toxin that affects the body’s nervous system. As the Italian case proves, if left untreated, the condition can be fatal. Botulism not only affects food storage; it is also often associated with the misuse of Botox injections for both cosmetic and medical purposes, and can even develop in babies.
In this gallery, you’ll get to know all about botulism, including the symptoms, treatment, and whether or not it can be prevented. Click on for more.