BREAKING NEWS UK health chiefs' urgent warning after outbreak of paralysing botulism infections is linked to popular cosmetic treatment
Health chiefs at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued an alert on Friday afternoon.
It comes after nearly 40 people attended NHS healthcare settings with adverse reactions to cosmetic procedures involving botulinum toxin over the past month.
Reported reactions have included difficulty swallowing, slurred speech and breathing difficulty requiring respiratory support.
All of the procedures were carried out in the East of England and East Midlands.
The UKHSA said in a statement: 'Investigations are ongoing but evidence so far suggests the use of an unlicensed Botox-like product.
'It is understood that those practitioners involved in this latest incident have ceased the procedure and are co-operating with the ongoing investigation.'
The cases are in addition to those recently diagnosed in the North East region and at not believed to be connected at this time.
The UKHSA is also advising people to make sure they take precautions when seeking aesthetic procedures, including checking if the product being used is licensed.
It has also issued national advice to clinicians to ensure that they look out for botulism in people who may have had a recent aesthetic procedure in order to provide them appropriate treatment which includes giving anti-toxin.
Dr Gauri Godbole, Consultant Medical Microbiologist at UKHSA, said: 'We are working closely with our partners to reduce the public health risk and would advise people to make sure they take precautions when seeking aesthetic procedures.
'Botulism related to aesthetic procedures is rare, but it can be serious. It is caused by toxins produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. These toxins (but not the bacteria) are the active ingredient in 'Botox' and similar products.
'Symptoms of botulism can take up to four weeks to develop and if you have had a recent botulinum toxin (Botox-like) treatment and are having symptoms such as difficulty swallowing or breathing, contact NHS 111 for further advice and seek treatment.
'If you are considering having a cosmetic procedure, please make sure to check that your practitioner is using a licensed product.'
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