Sardinian woman dies ‘after eating contaminated guacamole'
Valeria Sollai, 62, died at the Monserrato Policlinico Hospital in Cagliari late on Monday after weeks on life support.
Ms Sollai, a school cook, is believed to have eaten the same guacamole suspected of killing 38-year-old Roberta Pitzalis on Aug 8. A post-mortem confirmed Ms Pitzalis died from a combination of botulism poisoning and pneumonia.
Several other people needed hospital treatment following the Fiesta Latina festival in Monserrato, a suburb of Cagliari, which ran from July 22-24, and two children remain in hospital.
A post-mortem is to be held on the body of Ms Sollai, who had been showing signs of recovery before suffering a relapse and dying.
Food poisoning alert
There is growing alarm about food safety in Italy following the events at the festival, and a separate deadly botulism outbreak in the southern region of Calabria earlier this month.
Distraught family members were struggling to come to terms with Ms Sollai's sudden death.
'It's absurd that someone goes out for a relaxing evening, goes to a party, eats a sandwich and ends up in the hospital,' Gianni Milia, her cousin, told the Sardinian newspaper L'Unione Sarda.
'She was with her sisters, they all ate the same sandwich, but only she fell ill. They were celebrating their older sister's discharge from the hospital. A party turned into a tragedy.'
Tomaso Locci, the Monserrato mayor, said of Ms Sollai: 'She gave so much for our children. The news saddens us deeply. We will be present at the funeral as a community, as we were for Roberta Pitzalis, the other victim. This is a loss that affects us all.'
A 14-year-old girl is still being treated at Monserrato Policlinico hospital, while an 11-year-old boy has been flown to Rome's Gemelli Policlinico in a serious condition.
Ms Sollai is survived by her husband, Angelo Aru, and son Alessandro, a police officer in Campania.
In a Facebook post at the end of July, Alessandro referred to an unnamed patient with 'worsening neurological conditions' and made an emotional appeal for people to take greater care about consuming street food.
'I strongly advise against eating any food sold at street stalls over the next few weeks,' he wrote.
Authorities in Calabria have launched an investigation after two people died in a separate outbreak of botulism in the coastal town of Diamante.
Luigi di Sarno, a 52-year-old artist, and Tamara D'Acunto, 45, both fell ill shortly after eating panini filled with grilled sausages and turnip tops from a food truck. Another 14 people, including two teenagers, came down with food poisoning and had to be taken to hospital.
The Italian health ministry recently introduced urgent health protocols to improve medical intervention and responses to any botulism outbreaks.
Botulism is caused by a toxin that attacks the body's nerves. It can lead to muscle paralysis, breathing difficulties and death, and is found typically in canned, preserved and fermented foods.
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Roberta Pitzalis, 38, also ate the same batch of guacamole at the festival in Sardinia - before dying on August 8. Advertisement An autopsy confirmed Roberta died from a combination of botulism poisoning and pneumonia. Several others required hospital treatment following the horrifying ordeal at the Fiesta Latina festival. The food event took place in Monserrato, in Cagliari, between July 22-24. One boy and one girl, aged 11 and 14 respectively, remain in hospital and are reported to have eaten from the same batch of guacamole. Advertisement A post-mortem for Valeria is set to take place. She showed signs of recovery before suffering a relapse and tragically dying. Her cousin Gianni Milia said: "It's absurd that someone goes out for a relaxing evening, goes to a party, eats a sandwich and ends up in the hospital. Woman, 45, becomes second person to die after eating 'toxic broccoli' as 17 others poisoned as veg recalled across Italy "She was with her sisters, they all ate the same sandwich, but only she fell ill." She added: "They were celebrating their older sister's discharge from the hospital. A party turned into a tragedy." Advertisement Describing Valeria, Monserrato mayor Tomaso Locci said: 'She gave so much for our children. "The news saddens us deeply. We will be present at the funeral as a community, as we were for Roberta Pitzalis, the other victim. "This is a loss that affects us all.' Valeria is survived by her husband, Angelo Aru, and her son Alessandro, a police officer in Campania. In a Facebook post last month, Alessandro spoke about an unnamed patient with 'worsening neurological conditions'. Advertisement He also made a heartbreaking appeal for people to be more careful with street food. He said: "I strongly advise against eating any food sold at street stalls over the next few weeks." The poisoned 14-year-old girl is being treated at Monserrato Policlinico hospital. Meanwhile, the 11-year-old has been flown to Rome's Gemelli Policlinico and is said to be in a serious condition. Botulism: Everything you need to know What Is It? Botulism is a rare but serious illness caused by a toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. It affects the nervous system, leading to muscle paralysis and breathing difficulties. How is it contracted? The illness usually comes from eating food contaminated with the toxin. This often happens due to improper food processing, such as inadequate canning. Symptoms to watch for: Muscle weakness Difficulty breathing Double vision Difficulty swallowing How serious is it? Botulism can be life-threatening. In severe cases, it can cause death, with around 10 per cent of cases being fatal if not treated promptly. Treatment: If you think you are suffering from botulism poisoning, medical attention is crucial. Treatment typically involves antitoxins and supportive care, including breathing assistance if necessary. Prevention: Ensure proper food processing and handling. Avoid consuming home-canned foods if you're unsure about their safety. It comes amid mounting concern over food safety in Italy following similar events across the country. Advertisement Another deadly botulism outbreak was reported in the southern region of Calabria earlier this month. It also comes after two people in Italy died after eating a toxic veggie and sausage sandwich in Italy. More than a dozen people were hospitalised after eating the poisoned sandwiches from a food truck near the town of Diamante in Calabria. Tamara D'Acunto, 45, died shortly after eating the panini made with turnip greens - a vegetable similar to broccoli - last week. 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