Botulism cases linked to Botox injections under investigation in Massachusetts
Massachusetts health officials are investigating four recent cases of suspected botulism connected to cosmetic injections of Botox.
The outbreak on the South Shore prompted the Department of Public Health to warn health care providers to be alert about symptoms. consistent with botulism occurring after botulinum toxin injections.
Botox is widely used for cosmetic purposes to reduce wrinkles and fine lines.
'While generally safe when administered by trained professionals, improper dosing, administration technique, or use of non-FDA-approved products may increase the risk of systemic botulism symptoms,' the DPH advisory said.
Botulism, though rare, can be fatal. It occurs when botulinum toxin enters the bloodstream and can produce effects far from the injection site, according to the advisory.
Initial botulism symptoms include double or blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing and breathing problems, according to state health officials. These symptoms may progress to muscle weakness that worsens over hours to days.
Anybody who is experiencing any symptoms should go to an emergency room.
'This is very rare,' South Shore Hospital infectious disease specialist Dr. Todd Ellerin told WCVB. 'We call it iatrogenic botulism, which means you get it as a complication of an injection. It is very rare.'
The DPH has not released details about the condition of the four individuals involved in the South Shore cases or information about the provider or facility where they received their injections.
How pink heart shaped fentanyl led to Mass. father's 18-year prison sentence
ICE deportation blocked by Boston judge: Migrants now in shipping container in Djibouti
Mass. State Lottery winner: Father will take children to Disney with $100K prize
Former police deputy chief, school resource officer convicted of child rape
Mass. casino winner: $2.50 bet won gambler jackpot prize
```
Read the original article on MassLive.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Boston Globe
an hour ago
- Boston Globe
‘Growing cluster' of botox-related botulism cases tied to Milton spa, health officials say
Rodrigo Beauty did not immediately return a request for comment Saturday night. It appeared the website for booking appointments had been taken down. Related : State health officials previously Use of botulinum toxin — commonly known by the popular brand name Botox — for cosmetic procedures is widely Advertisement Health officials stress that Botox and other cosmetic procedures should only be administered by licensed professionals in accredited medical settings. Botulism results when the botulinum toxin circulates in the blood, causing a variety of paralytic symptoms. Those symptoms include double or blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, and difficulty breathing. Such symptoms are sometimes followed by muscle weaknesses, which can progress over the course of hours or days. Advertisement In November, a Stoughton woman was Material from previous Globe coverage was included in this report. Camilo Fonseca can be reached at
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
FDA Reveals Which Kinds of Eggs May Be Contaminated with Salmonella
In a June news release, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration revealed that "brown cage-free and brown certified organic eggs" from the August Egg Company have "the potential" to be contaminated with salmonella. The outlet added that the eggs were "sold under multiple different brand names at restaurants and retailers" and should "no longer be available for sale." Those brands are Clover, First Street, Nuaid, O Organics, Marketside, Raleys, Simple Truth, Sun Harvest, and Sunnyside. According to People, over 1.7 million eggs have been recalled in nine states: California, Washington, Nevada, Arizona, Wyoming, New Mexico, Nebraska, Indiana, and Illinois. On June 6, 2025, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed they were investigating the "multi-state outbreak of salmonella infections." Mayo Clinic states that while some people with salmonella may have no symptoms, most experience a range of symptoms, like abdominal cramps, within 8 to 72 hours. "In some cases, diarrhea can cause severe dehydration and requires prompt medical attention. Life-threatening complications also may develop if the infection spreads beyond the intestines. The risk of getting salmonella infection is higher with travel to countries without clean drinking water and proper sewage disposal." At this time, 21 people have been hospitalized due to infection, according to the FDA. In a statement, the August Egg Company shared, "We believe it is appropriate out of an abundance of caution to conduct this voluntary recall, as consumers may still have these eggs in their homes. It is important to know that when our processing plant identified this concern, we immediately began diverting all eggs from the plant to an egg-breaking facility, which pasteurizes the eggs and kills any pathogens." The company concluded, "We are committed to addressing this matter fully and to implementing all necessary corrective actions to ensure this does not happen again."FDA Reveals Which Kinds of Eggs May Be Contaminated with Salmonella first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 7, 2025
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
10 botulism cases linked back to Milton spa, health officials say
The Massachusetts Department of Health (DPH) has issued a warning to the public after an increase in botulism cases has been linked to a spa in Milton. Officials say that the suspected cases are tied back to Rodrigo Beauty, located at 464 Granite Ave, in Milton. As of today, at least 10 people have been linked to the suspected iatrogenic botulism. In a statement from the DPH, iatrogenic botulism is a 'rare but serious illness caused by botulinum toxin spreading beyond the injection site, potentially leading to life-threatening symptoms.' On Thursday, the DPH released a statement about an investigation into 4 cosmetic botulism cases on the South Shore. First and early symptoms include: blurred or double vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, or breathing difficulties. The DPH is advising anyone who has received Botox injections from the Milton spa between May 1 and June 4 is strongly urged to contact the Massachusetts Department of Public Health at 617-983-6800 or their local board of health immediately, even if they are not currently experiencing symptoms. The DPH also reiterated the importance of undergoing a procedure like Botox injections from a licensed professional with medical credentials. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
