Health officials in the Armenian city of Gyumri are reporting two cases of botulism possibly linked to preserved peppers or home-made aubergine caviar, according to a local media report.
According to the health ministry, the patients developed symptoms of botulism one day after consuming the suspected foods. They have been hospitalized and treated and are currently in “moderate condition”.
Food borne botulism is a severe intoxication caused by eating the preformed toxin present in contaminated food.
Food borne botulism occurs when the bacterium Clostridium botulinum is allowed to grow and produce toxin in food that is later eaten without sufficient heating or cooking to inactivate the toxin. Botulinum toxin is one of the most potent neurotoxins known.
Typically in a few hours to several days after you eat the contaminated food you will start to show the classic symptoms; blurred vision, dry mouth, and difficulty in swallowing. Gastrointestinal symptoms may or may not occur. If untreated, the paralysis always descends through the body starting at the shoulders and working its way down.
The most serious complication of botulism is respiratory failure where it is fatal in up to 10% of people. It may take months before recovery is complete.
If the disease is caught early enough it can be treated with antitoxin. If paralysis and respiratory failure happen, the person may be on a ventilator for several weeks.
One thought on “Caviar being investigated as source of botulism outbreak in Armenia”