Second person dies after eating toxic sandwich during botulism outbreak
45-year-old Tamara D'Acunto is confirmed to have died after undergoing treatment in intensive care for botulism from lunch.
Musician Luigi Di Sarno, 52, also died after buying the sandwich from a kiosk in Diamante, Calabria, in southern Italy.
More than 17 people are in hospital, prompting the Public Prosecutor's Office to seize the jars of broccoli from the business.
Cases of the rare and life-threatening disease were found in other Italian regions.
Botulism is a rare and sometimes life-threatening disease caused by toxins produced by the clostridium botulinum bacteria.
Historically contracted due to improperly canned food, the toxins attack the nervous system, leading to muscle paralysis.
More recently in the UK, patients were diagnosed with botulism linked to unlicensed anti-wrinkle injections.
Symptoms include blurred vision, fatigue and difficulties breathing.
Around 5 to 10 per cent of cases are fatal, according to the NHS.
Because a majority of doctors have never encountered it, initial misdiagnosis is not uncommon.
It came as Roberta Pitzalis, 38, died from complications after eating a guacamole from a stand at a gastronomic festival in Cagliari, Sardinia.
According to La Repubblica, her condition had appeared to stabilise before she suddenly deteriorated. More Trending
An 11-year-old boy who also attended the Monserrato Latina festival and had eaten a taco with guacamole, was transferred by helicopter to Rome's Gemelli hospital.
He remains in a stable condition but has yet to make a recovery.
Authorities in Cagliari have launched an investigation into the outbreak.
Experts are advising people to exercise caution when buying risky foods and avoid eating canned or jarred products where the safety button has popped up, indicating the container has not been properly sealed.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
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Two people have died in Italy from botulism after consuming contaminated broccoli and sausage sandwiches from a food truck in Diamante, Calabria. The victims, Tamara D'Acunto, 45, and Luigi Di Sarno, 52, both succumbed to the rare, life-threatening disease, with over 17 other people hospitalised. Authorities have seized broccoli jars from the food truck business as part of their investigation into the outbreak. Separately, a 38-year-old woman died in Cagliari, Sardinia, after eating contaminated guacamole from a festival stand, with an 11-year-old boy also remaining in hospital from the same incident. Italian authorities are investigating both botulism outbreaks and have issued warnings for the public to exercise caution with certain foods.
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Two people are now confirmed dead after eating broccoli and sausage sandwiches from an Italian food truck. 45-year-old Tamara D'Acunto is confirmed to have died after undergoing treatment in intensive care for botulism from lunch. Musician Luigi Di Sarno, 52, also died after buying the sandwich from a kiosk in Diamante, Calabria, in southern Italy. More than 17 people are in hospital, prompting the Public Prosecutor's Office to seize the jars of broccoli from the business. Cases of the rare and life-threatening disease were found in other Italian regions. What is botulism? Botulism is a rare and sometimes life-threatening disease caused by toxins produced by the clostridium botulinum bacteria. Historically contracted due to improperly canned food, the toxins attack the nervous system, leading to muscle paralysis. More recently in the UK, patients were diagnosed with botulism linked to unlicensed anti-wrinkle injections. Symptoms include blurred vision, fatigue and difficulties breathing. Around 5 to 10 per cent of cases are fatal, according to the NHS. Because a majority of doctors have never encountered it, initial misdiagnosis is not uncommon. It came as Roberta Pitzalis, 38, died from complications after eating a guacamole from a stand at a gastronomic festival in Cagliari, Sardinia. According to La Repubblica, her condition had appeared to stabilise before she suddenly deteriorated. An 11-year-old boy who also attended the Monserrato Latina festival and had eaten a taco with guacamole, was transferred by helicopter to Rome's Gemelli hospital. He remains in a stable condition but has yet to make a recovery. Authorities in Cagliari have launched an investigation into the outbreak. Experts are advising people to exercise caution when buying risky foods and avoid eating products from cans or jars where the safety button has popped up, indicating the container has not been properly sealed. check our news page.
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