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WEBVTT S AWARNING FROM HEALTH OFFICIALS.NATALIE: A BOTULISM OUTBREAK,LINKED TO A SACRAMENTO COUNTYGAS STATION.OVER THE LAST 2 WEEKS, HEALTHOFFICIALS LEARNED OF AT LEAST 5CASES.THAT'S ABOUT THE NUMBER THEYNORMALLY SEE IN A YEAR>> FOUR OUT OF THE FIVE REPORTEDTHAT THEY ATE PREPARED FOOD FROMTHE GAS STATION.SO WE DECIDED AT THAT POINT THATWE NEED TO PUT A NOTICE OUT.NATALIE: VALLEY OAK FOOD ANDFUEL IN WALNUT GROVE IS OPEN FORBUSINESS, BUT NOT SERVING ANYFOOD AT THIS TIME.ALL FIVE PEOPLE WHO CAME DOWNWITH BOTULISM ARE IN SERIOUSCONDITION.>> IT'S PREPOSTEROUS TO HAVETHAT SORT OF ALARMING RATE.>> THAT SEEMS VERY HIGH, JUSTMAKES ME QUESTION.NATALIE: THE GAS STATION HAS NOCOMMENT AT THIS TIME AND WOULDNOT LET US SHOOT VIDEO INSIDE,BUT THE FOOD AREA IS ROPED OFFAND PEOPLE APPEARED TO BECLEANING THE AREA WHERE IT WASSERVED.>> AT THIS TIME WE DON'T KNOWTHE EXACT FOOD, THAT IS UNDERINVESTIGATION.NATALIE: BOTULISM IS CAUSED BYTOXINS RELEASED BY A BACTERIA,AND IT CAN BE LIFE-THREATENING.>> IT QUICKLY PROGRESSES TOBLURRED VISION, SLURRED SPEECH,MUSCLE WEAKNESS, AND IT CAN ALSOINCLUDE DIFFICULTY BREATHING.>> THAT IS A LITTLE BRIGHTENING,KNOWING THAT MY TWO-YEAR-OLDCOULD BE SIX -- COULD BE SICK.NATALIE: A FRIEND OF THE OWNERTOLD US HEALTH OFFICIALS ALSOREMOVED SOME FOOD EQUIPMENT FROMTHE GAS STATION EARLIER THISWEEK.IT'S MAKING SOME PEOPLE THINKTWICE THE NEXT TIME THEY STOP TOFILL UP.>> I DON'T THINK I'M GOING TOBUY ANYTHING FROM A GAS STATIONNOW UNLESS IT'S WATER.NATALIE: IN WALNUT GROVE,NATALIE BRUNELL, KCRA 3 NEWS.ANCHOR: HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY IFYOU ATE FOOD FROM VALLEY OAK

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Health officials are investigating several cases of food poisoning connected with a Walnut Grove gas station, the Sacramento County Public Health Department said Sunday. At least four out of five reported cases of botulism have been linked to the Valley Oak Food and Fuel gas station. The health department and the Sacramento County Department of Environmental Management have already stopped the sale of food prepared at the gas station and are investigating. Valley Oak Food and Fuel denied to comment on this story, but a visit to the gas station revealed the food area was roped off. A friend of the station's owner said health officials also removed some food equipment. Botulism is a toxin produced by a bacteria called Clostridium botulinum, and can be spread through contaminated food or water. Health officials said it is a rare but serious paralytic illness, and it can be deadly. The bacteria produce a nerve toxin which can cause paralysis, double vision, blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, dry mouth and muscle weakness. The illness can be treated through an antitoxin injection and breathing assistance, according to Mayo Clinic. Anyone who has eaten prepared at the Valley Oak Food and Fuel between April 23 through Sunday, May 7 and has experienced any of the symptoms linked to Botulism is urged to call their doctor. In 2015, there were 174 cases of botulism reported in the U.S., according to Mayo Clinic.