A serious outbreak of botulism is currently rocking southern Italy. At least two people have died and twelve others have been admitted to hospital in a critical condition. They had presumably consumed contaminated food from a street vendor in Diamante in Calabria. The public prosecutor's office has opened an investigation into negligent homicide and the distribution of unhealthy food.
The fatalities include a 52-year-old man from Naples and a woman from the province of Cosenza. The public prosecutor's investigation is focusing on a street vendor, whose delivery van has since been confiscated, and on the legal representatives of two delivery companies. Sandwiches topped with broccoli are considered the probable source of the poisoning. The authorities currently assume that the contamination was not caused by the industrially manufactured product itself, but by improper preparation and handling on site. For this reason, the product was not confiscated nationwide.
In the hospitals, doctors are fighting for the lives of the twelve patients admitted, nine of whom are in intensive care. They were administered the life-saving botulism antitoxin from the national strategic reserve. According to the doctors treating them, the patients showed classic symptoms such as shortness of breath and difficulty swallowing and speaking.
Following the incidents in Calabria and another cluster with one death in Sardinia, the Ministry of Health has activated nationwide health protocols. According to the ministry, the rapid supply of the antidote was successful thanks to the good networking of all agencies. The population is called upon to be vigilant in the event of symptoms.
Info: Botulism is a rare but life-threatening poisoning caused by the neurotoxin Botulinum toxin usually caused by spoiled food such as incorrectly cooked preserves. The toxin blocks the transmission of signals between nerves and muscles, resulting in Paralysis can lead to respiratory arrest.
