France - Five confirmed cases of botulism in Indre-et-Loire

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Report of five probable cases of botulism in Indre-et-Loire: withdrawal and recall of artisanal cans of wild garlic pesto from the O Ptits Oignons brand

published on 10.09.24
Health alerts Press releases and kits Health

On September 9, 2024, the Centre-Val-de-Loire Regional Health Agency received reports of 5 probable cases of botulism, following a family meal and the consumption of wild garlic pesto from the brand "O Ptits Oignons". These people who presented symptoms suggestive of botulism were taken care of.



Measures implemented

The leftover food from this meal, including the wild garlic pesto made by a local producer, was sent to the Pasteur Institute for analysis . The results are expected within two days.

The Indre-et-Loire Departmental Directorate for the Protection of Populations (DDPP) immediately conducted investigations with the producer of these preserves. Since the artisanal production conditions did not guarantee the sterilization of the jars, a recall of all the jars manufactured was therefore decided immediately as a precaution (all manufacturing dates, all best before dates) .

It should be noted that cans of this pesto were sold at the following events (Indre et Loire department):

• Plant and Spring Festival at the Château de la Bourdaisière in Montlouis-sur-Loire, from March 30 to April 1, 2024;
• “Nature in celebration” festival at the Château de Cangé in Saint-Avertin, April 13 and 14, 2024;
• Garlic and Basil Fair in Tours, July 26, 2024;
• Tomato and flavors festival at the Château de la Bourdaisière in Montlouis-sur-Loire, September 7 and 8, 2024.

Given the incubation period (from a few hours to a few days) and the serious nature of the disease, people who have consumed these products are urged to be extremely vigilant and to consult a doctor if they experience symptoms (vision problems, difficulty swallowing, dry mouth, difficulty speaking), mentioning this alert. People who still have these products are advised not to consume them, not to open them, and to throw them away. What is botulism?

Botulism is a serious neurological condition caused by a very powerful toxin that develops in particular in poorly preserved foods. In France, the majority of cases of botulism are linked to preserved foods that have not undergone a thorough sterilization process: salted meats, cold meats or canned goods of family or artisanal origin.

The disease generally appears 12 to 72 hours after consuming contaminated food and causes symptoms of varying severity: early digestive signs that may be fleeting (abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea), eye damage (impaired accommodation, blurred vision), neurological symptoms responsible for a risk of choking, dry mouth accompanied by impaired swallowing or even speech, more or less severe paralysis of the muscles.

Treatment of botulism is essentially symptomatic and requires, in severe forms, intensive respiratory care with assisted ventilation. Administration of botulinum antitoxin in the hours or first days after the onset of symptoms can shorten the hospitalization time.

The vast majority of patients treated without delay recover without after-effects, but the duration of treatment and convalescence can last several months.

Learn more about botulism and its treatments

• Visit the Pasteur Institute website page
• Visit the Public Health France website page

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Press contacts:
Center for Agriculture and Food Sovereignty:
ministere.presse@agriculture.gouv.fr
01 49 55 60 11
Ministry of Labor, Health and Solidarity
Health Crisis Center alertes-presse@sante.gouv.fr
alerte-presse@sante.gouv.fr
01 87 05 93 80

https://sante.gouv.fr/actualites/pre...ire-retrait-et

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September 12, 2024 Press Release

Update: Confirmation of cases of botulism in Indre-et-Loire

The National Reference Center (NRC) for Anaerobic Bacteria and Botulism at the Pasteur Institute confirmed to the health and food authorities on Thursday, September 12, the presence of Clostridium botulinum in the wild garlic pesto of the brand "O Ptits Oignons" consumed by five people in Indre-et-Loire. The analyses carried out on the patients, currently hospitalized in intensive care and continuous monitoring unit (USC) in the Centre-Val-de-Loire region, have also biologically confirmed the presence of botulism in the serum of four of these five patients. The analyses concerning the fifth case are in progress.

Following an initial communication from the authorities on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, the departmental directorate for the protection of populations is continuing its investigations in order to identify the buyers of the incriminated pots of pesto, and the health authorities are reminding people of the conduct to be adopted in the event of possession of these products.

People who have consumed the product and have symptoms suggestive of botulism should immediately contact their doctor or 15. It is recommended that these people keep the product in a secure place for analysis purposes. If not consumed, the product should be discarded immediately, without being opened.

As a reminder, botulism is a serious neurological condition caused by a very powerful toxin that develops in particular in poorly preserved foods. The disease generally occurs 12 to 72 hours after consuming contaminated food and causes symptoms of varying severity: early digestive signs that may be fleeting (abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea), eye damage (impaired accommodation, blurred vision), neurological symptoms responsible for a risk of choking, dry mouth accompanied by impaired swallowing or even speech, more or less severe paralysis of the muscles.

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https://agriculture.gouv.fr/point-de-situation-confirmation-des-cas-de-botulisme-en-indre-et-loire

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RTL DOCUMENT - "They are all intubated, on drips, fed by tubes": the mother of one of the people poisoned by botulism gives her testimony

While five probable cases of botulism are hospitalized in Indre-et-Loire after consuming homemade canned wild garlic pesto, the mother of one of them gives her testimony. "They are all intubated, on IVs, and fed by tubes," she confides.

Clement Teraha
published on 09/12/2024 at 07:40 - updated on 09/12/2024 at 07:40

Five people poisoned by botulism are still in intensive care in Tours after eating canned wild garlic pesto, prepared by a local artisan. In total, 600 jars are being sought across France. A food investigation as well as a judicial inquiry have been opened . The victims are in a worrying state and their recovery is expected to take weeks.

Reached by RTL, Maria-Cécile, the mother of one of the hospitalized patients, describes their difficult daily life. " They are all intubated, on drips, fed by tubes . My daughter moves her feet, communicates with us by making signs with her fingers," she says. "On the other hand, the third girl was rushed last night to another hospital in Tours to be operated on for digestive complications. She is between life and death and we don't know if we will save her ," continues Maria-Cécile.

"It's several weeks of intubation anyway. So as soon as the muscles can work on their own, they'll stop the artificial ventilation ," the mother explains. "Afterwards, depending on the number of weeks, always assuming that there are no complications, it's several months of rehabilitation. You'll have to relearn how to speak, walk, and write. It's like someone coming out of a deep coma, it's the same . And that's in the best case scenario," concludes Maria-Cécile.

https://www.rtl.fr/actu/sante/document-rtl-ils-sont-tous-intubes-sous-perfusion-nourris-par-sondes-la-mere-d-une-des-personnes-intoxiquees-au-botulisme-temoigne-7900416921

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BOTULISM: "THEY ARE NOT SAVED", THE DEEP CONCERN OF A RELATIVE OF PATIENTS IN INTENSIVE CARE

Nicolas Traino
THE 09/13/2024 at 6:48

RMC TESTIMONY. Five people are hospitalized in intensive care after being contaminated by botulism by eating wild garlic pesto. Thierry, father-in-law of one of the victims, expresses his deep concern.

An invisible threat in the artisanal sauce. It is indeed the jars of wild garlic pesto "O ptitsoignons", sold in Indre-et-Loire, which are at the origin of the five cases of botulism in Tours. The Pasteur Institute confirms the presence of the bacteria in the product. Botulism toxins are present in four patients and the analyses concerning the fifth are still in progress. They are all currently hospitalized. And their relatives are very worried.

Night and day, Thierry takes turns with his partner at his daughter-in-law's bedside. Laurie's 32nd birthday, Saturday night, turned into a tragedy. With her boyfriend and three childhood friends, the wild garlic pesto served as an aperitif sent them all to intensive care, paralyzed by botulism, a serious neurological condition.

"She is conscious, but she cannot speak, open her eyes," Thierry testified on RMC . "We tell her that it will take a long time but that she is a fighter, that she will get there. There are two people who are more or less able to communicate, by making gestures with their fingers on the sheets. But the other two are not moving at all. We are told that it will last for weeks. They are not saved. A fifth person, the mother of the little baby, was transferred to Trousseau (in Paris, Editor's note) in a serious condition. They operated on her on Tuesday or Wednesday."

THE SAMU DID NOT WANT TO MOVE

Laurie, her boyfriend and her friends went to the emergency room on Saturday with symptoms (vision problems, speech problems and dry mouth), where they received the appropriate treatment. They had called an emergency medical service operator during the night, who had not taken them seriously. "The 15, they said 'it must be drugs or alcohol so we're not going'. This is not normal," Thierry points out.

The parents of this group of friends are hoping with all their heart that their children will be able to eliminate the toxins without any after-effects. And they are waiting for answers. They are considering filing a complaint, now that the link has been established between these jars of pesto and their children's serious illness. The sick people are expected to stay in hospital for many weeks, the time it takes for their bodies to completely eliminate the toxins, before then probably several months of rehabilitation.

https://rmc.bfmtv.com/actualites/societe/sante/botulisme-ils-ne-sont-pas-sauves-la-profonde-inquietude-d-un-proche-des-patients-en-reanimation_AV-202409130105.html#:~:text=TEMOIGNAGE%20RMC.,invisi%20ble%20dans%20la%20sauce%20artisanale.%E2%80%8B