This disease is suspected after the death of a person on Tuesday, after eating sardines in a Bordeaux restaurant. At this stage, twelve cases of botulism have been officially recorded.
Of the “sardines in a jar“: a person died after consuming it and probably contracting botulism, according to an urgent bulletin published on the evening of Tuesday September 12 by the General Directorate of Health (DGS), relayed by France Bleu Gironde. Twelve people contracted the botulism after a restaurant in Bordeaux served them sardines in a jar, between Monday September 4 and Sunday September 10, indicated the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Regional Health Agency during a press conference, Wednesday September 13, 2023 .
>> What we know about probable cases of botulism in Bordeaux, which caused one death and eight hospitalizations
They all ate in a restaurant in Bordeaux, the Tchin Tchin Wine Bar, “very popular with Anglo-Saxon customers“. The health authorities are on alert: “The incubation time for foodborne botulism can range from a few hours to a few days.“, specifies Benjamin Clouzeau, resuscitation doctor at Bordeaux University Hospital. Also, “the occurrence of other cases, in the coming days, linked to this establishment is not excluded“.
What symptoms?
On the Public Health France website, we can read that the symptoms are “to varying degrees“, depending on the amount of toxin ingested.”Early digestive signs which may be fleeting (abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea), eye damage (failure to accommodate, blurred or double vision), dry mouth accompanied by difficulty swallowing or even speech, or neurological symptoms (wrong paths, more or less severe paralysis of the muscles). There is usually no fever“, specifies the specialized site.
Concretely, it is a condition due to the action of botulinum toxin produced by a bacteria called Clostridium botulinum. This toxin develops in particular in poorly preserved foods that have not undergone an extensive sterilization process, such as cold meats, family or artisanal preserves, specifies for example the Pasteur Institute. Note that this toxin is also used to prepare Botox, a product intended for cosmetic or therapeutic purposes.
Over the period 2013-2016, 39 confirmed outbreaks were detected and, in more than 9 out of 10 cases, it was food botulism, according to data from Public Health France. These poisonings mainly concern adults, who have consumed charcuterie products in 70% of cases.
If in doubt, consult quickly to obtain a diagnosis and immediate treatment (early administration of an antitoxin and intensive respiratory care), specifies the World Health Organization (WHO). The vast majority of patients treated without delay recover and have no after-effects, but the treatment and convalescence period can last several months. The disease remains fatal in 5 to 10% of cases.
What precautionary measures should be taken?
It is recommended to be wary of “homemade” canned goods. In fact, the foods most often involved in outbreaks of botulism are family canned goods or artisanal products. The National Health Safety Agency (ANSES) draws up a relatively detailed list including for example: mortadella, salted and dried raw ham, preserved vegetables, cured meats made from beef, salted and dried fish, fish marinades, etc.
The consumption of products from damaged cans is also prohibited. The odor given off by the contents of the can should alert you, but vegetables contaminated with botulinum toxin do not give off a specific odor. Honey is also not recommended for children under 1 year old. In fact, resistant forms (spores) of the bacteria, responsible for this disease, can be found in dust and certain soils. Transported by bees, the spores can then be found in honey, warns ANSES. Children under 1 year old are particularly susceptible to this infection, because their immune system is not completely ready to defend itself against microbes.
Finally, it is generally necessary to ensure compliance with the cold chain, for preparations which have not undergone heat treatment or which have undergone it to an insufficient level. As for foods purchased commercially, it is necessary to respect the cold storage instructions and the expiration date.
The health authorities, in conjunction with the Public Health France organization and the National Botulism Reference Center of the Institut Pasteur, recommend that people who attended the establishment on the same dates and present symptoms (diarrhea, vomiting, respiratory disorders) vision or speech) “to consult a doctor urgently or to contact 15“.