One dead and nine in hospital after eating contaminated sandwich
Artist and musician Luigi Di Sarno, 52, collapsed and could not be revived after purchasing a broccoli and sausage sandwich from a food truck along the Diamante seafront in Cosenza province.
The casualties, believed to include two teenagers, were all admitted to the intensive care unit at Annunziata Hospital in the town.
Among those requiring urgent medical attention are understood to be members of Mr Di Sarno's devastated family, with two patients reportedly remaining in an extremely critical condition.
The incident occurs against the backdrop of an escalating botulism outbreak triggered by toxins from Clostridium botulinum bacteria, reports the Mirror. Entire family of five killed in horror rental car crash in Portugal
This follows a doctor's stark warning to individuals who consume even a 'single cup of tea'.
Unverified reports suggest a 38 year old woman has also perished after eating a taco with guacamole at a festival kiosk in Cagliari.
The nation remains on heightened alert following the Paola Public Prosecutor's Office's demand for the 'immediate seizure of a commercial product'.
The Calabria Region's Department of Health and Welfare stated: "The emergency procedure established in these cases has been activated, which requires immediate notification to the Poison Control Center in Pavia, the only national centre designated for the management of botulism. Giant sandwich with salsicce e friarielli - sausages and broccoli - neapolitan food (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto) An urgent broccoli recall has been launched following the man's death (Image: Facebook)
"No region or hospital in the country is authorised to store the antivenom in their own facilities. This serum, however, is exclusively available to the Ministry of Health, which holds it in designated secure locations and distributes it only through the Lombardy Poison Control Centre.
"The first two vials, used for the first patients, were sent directly from the Military Pharmacy in Taranto. However, as the number of cases increased, additional supplies became necessary.
"Yesterday, the Calabria Region, through Azienda Zero, provided a 118 aircraft that flew to the San Camillo Hospital in Rome, where the ministry had centralised additional vials of the antivenom to facilitate distribution."
A friend of Mr Di Sarno paid tribute to him on social media, writing: "The world loses once again a beautiful person, leaving a void in all those who truly cared for him.
"We had rare encounters in recent times but mutual respect never waned, we had a beer pending and many stories to share. It will be for another world, rest in peace!".
The contaminated broccoli incident comes just days after eight people reportedly fell ill with botulism after consuming tainted guacamole at a festival in Sardinia late last month.
An 11 year old boy remains in intensive care at the Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome after being airlifted from Cagliari. The mayor of Diamante, Achille Ordine, has urged people not to 'create panic' in the wake of the outbreak, while the Public Prosecutor's Office of Paola is conducting an investigation.
The ASP of Cosenza has imposed a health block on the activity 'as a precautionary measure'.
Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- The Irish Sun
Billie Faiers diagnosed with devastating health condition after months of ‘horrendous' symptoms
It took weeks for the doctors to figure out what was wrong with Billie BILLIE Faiers has been diagnosed with a devastating health condition, after months of 'horrendous' symptoms. The 35-year-old reality star has struggled through extreme fatigue and agonising pain in her battle with the disease. 4 Billie Faiers has been diagnosed with a devastating health condition, after months of 'horrendous' symptoms Credit: Asda 4 It took weeks for the doctors to figure out what was wrong with Billie Credit: Instagram Advertisement 4 Billie with her husband Greg and their three children Credit: Instagram And now the mum-of-three has revealed the true extent of it, saying: 'Some mornings I couldn't even get out of bed. I would have to crawl, going to the toilet, I was in bits, I was hysterical, crying, because I was in so much pain.' Billie continued to tell the Mirror: ' It was hard for me to sit on the toilet without Greg helping me. It was so scary. ''I had so many blood tests but no one could figure it out. One doctor said she'd never seen anything like it. It was frustrating. This went on for about two months before we learnt it was Lyme.' Advertisement It took weeks for the doctors to figure out what was wrong with Billie, before coming to the conclusion that she was likely bitten by an infected tick as many as three years ago. Lyme disease is a bacterial infection spread to humans by infected ticks - tiny, spider-like creatures that live in grassy or wooded areas. The first symptom of the illness tends to be a red, bulls-eye ring around the bite. But people bitten by bacteria-laden ticks can be struck with debilitating symptoms days or months afterwards. Advertisement These can include severe headaches, joint pain shooting pains or tingling in the hands or feet, and episodes of dizziness. A number of celebs have spoken out about suffering from the disease - from Bella Hadid and her mum Yolanda, to Justin Bieber, Miranda Hart and Ben Stiller. Billie Faiers under fire from Family Diaries viewers for filming distressing scenes of her dad before rehab Billie continued to tell the publication that her body didn't respond to the antibiotics she was prescribed. She added: 'I was so unwell. It was only after [My sister] Sam introduced me to a holistic doctor and I started taking natural medicines that I started to notice a difference and things slowly began to turn around.' 4 A number of celebs, including Justin Timberlake, have spoken out about suffering from the disease Credit: Getty Advertisement
Irish Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Wife's tribute to 'best friend' who died after eating undercooked hotel chicken
A heartbroken wife has released a statement following the tragic death of her husband, who died after consuming 'undercooked chicken' at a Fuerteventura hotel. To mark his milestone 70th birthday, Leslie Green and his family booked accommodation at the four-star Occidental Jandia Playa resort in autumn 2024. Tragically, what was meant to be a perfect holiday filled with cherished memories turned into catastrophe. On October 9, during the second week of their €2,700 break, the grandfather-of-one became seriously unwell. He experienced symptoms including diarrhoea, which caused dehydration, and required placement in an induced coma as his condition worsened, reports the Mirror. Devastatingly, he would never regain consciousness. On November 4, just hours after the decision was taken to turn off his life support equipment, Leslie died, leaving his family devastated. An inquest at Rochdale Coroner's Court determined that Leslie died from multi-organ failure resulting from sepsis, triggered by Salmonella. Following the hearing, Julie Green, Leslie's wife of 38 years, honoured the retired newspaper delivery driver for the Manchester Evening News, whom she called her "best friend" in an emotional statement. Julie, from Little Lever in Bolton, said: "It's almost impossible to find the words to describe the last few months, and trying to come to terms with Leslie's death. Julie and Leslie Green on their holiday in the Canary Islands, before Leslie fell ill. (Image: Irwin Mitchell / SWNS) Occidental Jandia Playa resort in Fuerteventura, Canary Islands. (Image: Irwin Mitchell / SWNS) "Leslie was such a loving and caring husband and dad. He was my best friend, and life without him will never be the same. I still struggle to comprehend how we went on holiday, but Leslie didn't come home. Leslie was the head of our family and someone everyone looked to for help and guidance." She continued: "There's now a gaping hole in our family that can never be filled. I'd do anything not to be in this position and for Leslie to be in our lives, but I know that's not possible. Listening to the evidence has been difficult, but it was something I was determined to do to honour Leslie's memory. I just hope that by speaking out, I can prevent anyone else suffering like Leslie did. I wouldn't wish that on anyone." Retired nurse Julie also fell seriously unwell, developing salmonella on what turned out to be her 60th birthday, and was hospitalised for a week. According to Julie, she and Leslie had consumed only food from the hotel buffet throughout their visit. She remembered how they'd consumed a dish featuring tepid carbonara sauce on one occasion, whilst another separate meal included inadequately cooked chicken. Julie also claimed that freshly prepared food had been combined with food that had been left standing, whilst staff weren't observed washing their hands. On August 13, the Barceló Hotel Group, which operates the Occidental Jandia Playa, responded to these allegations and confirmed that no Salmonella has been identified at the hotel within the past twelve months. A spokesperson said: "The Barceló Hotel Group deeply regrets the death of a guest at our Fuerteventura hotel in November 2024. On behalf of the entire group, we would like to extend our deepest condolences to the guest's family and loved ones and reiterate our firm commitment to the safety and well-being of our customers. "The Barceló Hotel Group has a strict food hygiene and safety protocol that includes rigorous internal controls and periodic external audits performed by an independent company renowned in food safety. "This control system guarantees compliance with applicable regulations and our company's stringent quality standards. We also hold certificates from the aforementioned external audit company confirming that no Salmonella has been detected at the hotel in the last twelve months. These audits and controls reflect our ongoing commitment to the health and safety of guests." The Greens were enjoying a Jet2 break when the devastating incidents occurred. Jet2 has said it would be "inappropriate" to comment due to an ongoing legal claim, but did express its "thoughts and condolences" to Leslie's family. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
Irish Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Woman dies after eating 'toxic broccoli' in poisoning that has rocked Italy
A woman has died after becoming the latest victim after eating 'toxic broccoli' in a poisoning that has rocked Italy. A terrifying botulism outbreak claimed the life of Tamara D'Acunto, 45, who died shortly after eating a panini. She purchased her lunch from a food truck in southwest Italy, and was rushed to hospital but she couldn't recover. It is the second death following the consumption of the 'contaminated' vegetable. Last week, Artist and musician Luigi Di Sarno, 52, collapsed and died after buying a broccoli and sausage sandwich on the Diamante seafront in the province of Cosenza. It comes after a waiter sat down to eat cheese during his break, and moments later he was dying. Eight others were rushed to hospital, including members of Mr Di Sarno's family. Broccoli has been recalled across Italy following the outbreak and the food truck where the sandwiches were made has also been seized. It comes amid a growing botulism outbreak caused by the toxins produced by Clostridium botulinum bacteria. The country is on high alert after the Paola Public Prosecutor's Office demanding an 'immediate seizure of a commercial product'. Calabria Region's Department of Health and Welfare issued a statement following the death of Mr Di Sarno last Thursday. It read: "The emergency procedure established in these cases has been activated, which requires immediate notification to the Poison Control Center in Pavia, the only national centre designated for the management of botulism. "No region or hospital in the country is authorised to store the antivenom in their own facilities. This serum, however, is exclusively available to the Ministry of Health, which holds it in designated secure locations and distributes it only through the Lombardy Poison Control Centre. "The first two vials, used for the first patients, were sent directly from the Military Pharmacy in Taranto. However, as the number of cases increased, additional supplies became necessary. "Yesterday, the Calabria Region, through Azienda Zero, provided a 118 aircraft that flew to the San Camillo Hospital in Rome, where the ministry had centralised additional vials of the antivenom to facilitate distribution." What is botulism? Botulism is a serious, potentially fatal illness triggered by a neurotoxin produced by Clostridium botulinum. Although rare, only around 1,000 cases reported globally each year, it can lead to muscle paralysis, respiratory failure, and even death if untreated. Symptoms typically begin 12 to 72 hours after exposure and may include blurred vision, slurred speech, muscle weakness, and fatigue. Early intervention with antitoxin and supportive care like mechanical ventilation is critical. How to avoid botulism? 1. Be cautious with oils, herbs and low-acid food Botulism can thrive in low-acid environments like homemade oils infused with herbs or vegetables - especially when stored at room temperature. Always refrigerate such products and use them within four days. 2. Reject suspicious canned goods Never consume food from bulging, dented, or leaking cans and jars. Even items without obvious spoilage can hide invisible, deadly toxins. 3. Use proper pressure canning techniques If you make your own preserves, especially with low-acid foods like vegetables and meats, always use a pressure canner, not a boiling-water bath. Pressure canning reaches temperatures high enough to destroy botulinum spores. 4. Acidify when can canning tomatoes Tomatoes vary in acidity and may not always be safe. To ensure they're preserved safely, add bottled lemon juice or citric acid so the pH stays at or below 4.6. Serious Eats 5. Heat everything thoroughly Botulinum toxin can be destroyed by heating food to above 85C for at least five minutes. This is especially important for home-canned low-acid foods. 6. Refrigerate promptly and store safely Never leave perishable food at room temperature for longer than two hours, or one hour in hot conditions (above 32C). Maintain refrigeration at 4C or below. Botulinum toxin cannot be seen, smelled, or tasted, and even the smallest amount can be deadly. If you have any doubt about the safety of a food item, don't sample it - discard it immediately.
