Botulism in Bahia state, Brazil
On Wednesday, the Epidemiological Surveillance of Bahia confirmed the sixth case of botulism in the state since January 2024.
Two people died, three are still hospitalized and only one patient was discharged. They are from the municipalities of Salvador, Campo Formoso, Senhor do Bonfim and Cícero Dantas.
The main suspicion is that the infection occurred through the ingestion of contaminated chicken mortadella.
In 2023, two cases of botulism were recorded in Bahia, both in Feira de Santana.
The coordinator of Communicable Diseases and Injuries for the Bahia State Health Department, Eleuzina Falcão, said that since botulism is a serious disease, one case would already be considered an outbreak. She asks the population to be aware of the symptoms, especially sudden muscle paralysis.
"It is also essential to take extra care with food and drinks. Check the expiration dates, the quality of seals and swollen cans," warns Eleuzina.
According to the Ministry of Health, botulism is a serious, rare, non-contagious neuroparalytic disease caused by the action of a potent toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum (C botulinum). The etiological agent enters the body through wounds or by ingesting contaminated food that is not properly produced and/or preserved.