Latest news with #botulinum
Metro
21 hours ago
- Health
- Metro
Second person dies after eating sausage and broccoli sandwich during botulism outbreak
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.
Metro
a day ago
- Health
- Metro
Second person dies after eating toxic sandwich during botulism outbreak
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. 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@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Urgent recall of supermarket cheese over deadly Listeria bacteria fears MORE: Italy's 'best-kept secret' is the home of Tiramisù and just 30 minutes from Venice MORE: Houses destroyed and thousands evacuated after wildfires rage across Europe
Metro
3 days ago
- Health
- Metro
Artist, 52, struck down by killer broccoli as 9 rushed to hospital
One person has died and nine people were rushed to hospital after an outbreak of botulism in broccoli. Musician Luigi Di Sarno, 52, collapsed and died after buying a broccoli and sausage sandwich from a kiosk in Diamante, Calabria in southern Italy. Patients being treated in intensive care at the Annunziata hospital in Cosenza include two 17-year-olds and two women in their 40s. Di Sarno was driving back to his home in Napoli when he began to feel unwell. He ended up stopping in Lagonegro in Potenza province, where he sadly passed away. Local health authorities have activated emergency measures after the botulism outbreak was tracked to a shipment of jarred broccoli in oil. 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@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Baby's one in 1,000,000 condition was diagnosed after a comment about his head MORE: World's longest suspension bridge gets go-ahead linking Italy and Sicily MORE: Exact time of 'one of the biggest emergency drills in UK history' revealed
North Wales Chronicle
18-07-2025
- Health
- North Wales Chronicle
Fresh botulism warning from health chiefs after Botox reactions
The new cases: in the east of England and East Midlands; suggest the use of an unlicensed Botox-like product, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said. They are not thought to be linked to the cases reported in the north east of England last month. Reactions have included severe eyelid drooping, double vision, trouble swallowing, slurred speech and lethargy, which can happen weeks after the procedure. There have been 38 cases of iatrogenic botulism – a rare form of the illness that happens as a result of medical treatment – reported between June 4 and July 14, according to UKHSA data. Dr Gauri Godbole, consultant medical microbiologist at UKHSA, said: '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.' Dr Godbole also urged anyone considering having cosmetic procedures to check that their practitioner is licensed. Professor Meghana Pandit, co-national medical director secondary care at NHS England, added: 'When these procedures go wrong, there is a risk of serious infections and permanent scarring, which is why only registered professionals like a doctor, a nurse or pharmacy prescriber should be prescribing these treatments.' Dr Alison Cave, chief safety officer at the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, warned that 'botulinum toxin is a prescription-only medicine and should only be sold or supplied in accordance with a prescription given by an appropriate practitioner such as a doctor or other qualified healthcare professional'. She said: 'Buying botulinum toxin in any other circumstances significantly increases the risk of getting a product which is either falsified or not licensed for use in the UK. 'This means that there are no safeguards to ensure products meet the MHRA's standards for quality and safety. As such, they can endanger the health of the people who take them. 'Our criminal enforcement unit works hard to identify those involved in the illegal trade in medicines and takes robust enforcement action where necessary. This can include criminal prosecution.' The practitioners involved with the latest cases have ceased the procedure and are co-operating with the investigation, the UKHSA said. The agency is advising healthcare staff to ensure they look out for botulism in people who may have had a recent aesthetic procedures. Treatment for the symptoms includes an anti-toxin.
Powys County Times
18-07-2025
- Health
- Powys County Times
Fresh botulism warning from health chiefs after Botox reactions
Health chiefs have urged people to be aware of the signs and symptoms of botulism after more people suffered reactions following cosmetic procedures involving botulinum toxin, also known as Botox. The new cases: in the east of England and East Midlands; suggest the use of an unlicensed Botox-like product, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said. They are not thought to be linked to the cases reported in the north east of England last month. Reactions have included severe eyelid drooping, double vision, trouble swallowing, slurred speech and lethargy, which can happen weeks after the procedure. There have been 38 cases of iatrogenic botulism – a rare form of the illness that happens as a result of medical treatment – reported between June 4 and July 14, according to UKHSA data. Dr Gauri Godbole, consultant medical microbiologist at UKHSA, said: '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.' Dr Godbole also urged anyone considering having cosmetic procedures to check that their practitioner is licensed. Professor Meghana Pandit, co-national medical director secondary care at NHS England, added: 'When these procedures go wrong, there is a risk of serious infections and permanent scarring, which is why only registered professionals like a doctor, a nurse or pharmacy prescriber should be prescribing these treatments.' Dr Alison Cave, chief safety officer at the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, warned that 'botulinum toxin is a prescription-only medicine and should only be sold or supplied in accordance with a prescription given by an appropriate practitioner such as a doctor or other qualified healthcare professional'. She said: 'Buying botulinum toxin in any other circumstances significantly increases the risk of getting a product which is either falsified or not licensed for use in the UK. 'This means that there are no safeguards to ensure products meet the MHRA's standards for quality and safety. As such, they can endanger the health of the people who take them. 'Our criminal enforcement unit works hard to identify those involved in the illegal trade in medicines and takes robust enforcement action where necessary. This can include criminal prosecution.' The practitioners involved with the latest cases have ceased the procedure and are co-operating with the investigation, the UKHSA said. The agency is advising healthcare staff to ensure they look out for botulism in people who may have had a recent aesthetic procedures.
