The botulism outbreak in Bordeaux has caused worldwide concern with 10 cases and at least one death.
Sardines served at the Tchin Tchin Wine Bar are believed to have caused the illnesses, according to a press release from Santé Publique France.
At least 10 people have fallen ill, eight requiring hospitalization and one resulting in death.
The press release said that people who visited the restaurant and subsequently developed symptoms were urged to 'consult a doctor urgently'.
The UK Health Security Agency has also warned people who visited the restaurant to monitor themselves. The statement says :
The Irish Embassy in Paris also tweet, The embassy recommended Irish citizens who had recently eaten at the restaurant to 'immediately consult a doctor' if they started experiencing symptoms.
The Independent reported that the person who died was a 32-year-old woman from Paris. She became so ill that she had difficulty breathing and was almost fully paralysed when she sought medical care, CTV News Toronto reported yesterday.
A rare condition known as botulism occurs when a toxin produced by bacteria strikes the body's nerves. Botulism is usually caused by bacteria found in food; they thrive in home-canned food, especially, per the Mayo Clinic. Botulism can be caused by a lack of storage or preparation of homemade food, which can lead to botulism. It can happen when a wound is exposed to bacteria.
Food-borne botulism is characterized by dry mouth, difficulty speaking or swallowing, blindness on both sides of one's face, double vision, blurred vision, vomiting, nausea, stomach cramps, and paralysis; wound botulism causes some- but not all of those symptoms.
Although wound botulism can be a possibility for 10 days after a wound has been exposed to bacteria, the warning signs of foodborne botulism typically begin within 12 to 36 hours after eating the food.
Should you have botulism, it's important to get medical attention, since it can be life-threatening. The condition affects one's capacity to control their muscles, resulting in problems that take a long time to heal, such as shortness of breath and lasting weakness.
If a doctor suspects botulism, they'll ask what kinds of foods you've recently eaten. In order to confirm the diagnosis, a doctor may check for paralysis or muscle weakness or drooping eyelids. They may also request a sample of one's blood, vomit, or stool to check for the toxin that causes the illness.
Some foods that cause vomiting or empty bowels can be treated with foodborne botulism, while clearing the digestive system may ease symptoms.
Antitoxins, which attach to toxins and keep them from harming the nervous system, can be injected to treat foodborne botulism. However, these pills cannot reverse damage that has already been done, but nerves can sometimes repair themselves. Symptoms of wund botulism are commonly treated with antibiotics.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are a couple of ways to lower your chances of suffering from foodborne botulism. Toxin-resistant foods like oils infused with herbs or garlic, such as olive oil, can be refrigerated, and baked potatoes wrapped in aluminium foil hot until they're served. The CDC says it's important to refrigerate pickles or canned foods after they've been opened.