The death toll from Italy’s botulism outbreak has risen to four, after a 62-year-old woman died in Sardinia on August 19. She had been hospitalized in Monserrato, Cagliari, for several weeks after eating a guacamole dish in late July. The same dish was linked to the death of a 36-year-old woman.
Two additional deaths were reported in early August in Calabria, where 18 people fell ill after eating a sausage sandwich with broccoli purchased from a street vendor, which likely caused the illness. Health officials say the outbreaks in Sardinia and Calabria have been traced to contaminated industrial and homemade preserves, sparking growing public concern across Italy.
Botulism is caused by Clostridium botulinum, a bacterium that produces a toxin that affects the body’s nervous system. As the Italian cases prove, 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.