Ukraine reports 132 botulism cases so far this year, most due to home cooking

In 2016 in Ukraine, 119 people were sickened by botulism, in which a dozen people died. So far in 2017, the picture looks very similar according to data from the Center for Influenza and Acute Respiratory Virus Infections of the Ministry of Health, a ukranews.com report states.

According to data received from the regions on November 15 in Ukraine, 132 cases cases of botulism were registered and 11 of them died.

The data also breaks down where the patients contracted the dangerous intoxication–80 victims of poisoning consumed products cooked at home, 35 victims – products purchased from trading enterprises, 10 victims – products of unknown origin, 7 victims – products purchased in places of unauthorized trade.

Food borne botulism is a severe intoxication caused by eating the preformed toxin present in contaminated food.

Food borne botulism occurs when the bacterium Clostridium botulinum is allowed to grow and produce toxin in food that is later eaten without sufficient heating or cooking to inactivate the toxin. Botulinum toxin is one of the most potent neurotoxins known.

Typically in a few hours to several days after you eat the contaminated food you will start to show the classic symptoms; blurred vision, dry mouth, and difficulty in swallowing. Gastrointestinal symptoms may or may not occur. If untreated, the paralysis always descends through the body starting at the shoulders and working its way down.

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The most serious complication of botulism is respiratory failure where it is fatal in up to 10% of people. It may take months before recovery is complete.

If the disease is caught early enough it can be treated with antitoxin. If paralysis and respiratory failure happen, the person may be on a ventilator for several weeks.





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