NewsDesk @bactiman63

On July 11, Italy notified through the Early Warning and Response System of the Union Union (EWRS) two cases of botulism whose only food in common had been an omelet of packaged potato consumed in Spain.

Image/CIA

On July 14, the Community of Madrid and the Community Valenciana notified the National Epidemiological Surveillance Network (RENAVE) of two cases with symptoms compatible with botulism, with ingestion of the same food, for which reason the immediately alerts the Autonomous Communities and Cities (CC.AA.).

Also, it contacted the Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (AESAN) as responsible for analyzing traceability and coordinating pertinent investigations regarding the food product.

Up to now, 7 cases have been reported with a history of consumption of packaged potato in the days prior to the onset of the symptoms: 5 laboratory-confirmed cases with symptom onset date between June 24 and July 10 and 2 probable cases (with compatible clinic and epidemiological link), whose dates of onset of symptoms have been 21 June and July 1 respectively.

Spain

In all cases there was a history of having consumed precooked potato omelet, packaged and purchased in different supermarkets of various autonomous communities and cities (CC.AA.), with different brands. According to the information provided by the Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (AESAN), in at least four of the cases the company that makes the product is the same.

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The confirmed cases in Italy are a 23-year-old woman and her 61-year-old father who returned to Italy from Valladolid on July 1, having consumed the packaged potato omelet on June 30 and who started symptoms on July 1 and 2. The other three confirmed cases reside in Spain, in Madrid, Galicia and Asturias and are three people aged 43, 49 and 50 respectively who consumed packaged food between June 19 and July 5. All three cases have required treatment in an Intensive Care Unit.

The probable cases have been notified by the Valencian Community and Andalusia, in two people aged 49 and 27 who started symptoms on June 21 and July 1, respectively, and with consumption between June 19 and June 30. There have been no deaths among the cases associated with this outbreak.