Table 5.
Country Year | Cases* (deaths) | Biological samples analyzed*: Results | Suspected or confirmed source** Food samples analyzed: Results | Human botulism Outbreak |
---|---|---|---|---|
USA, 1950 | 4 (1) | Stomach fluid: Presence of BoNT/C and C. botulinum type C | None** | Clinical suspicion type C |
France, 1955 | 2 (0) | None* | “Pâté” (Homemade): Absence of BoNT Presence of C. botulinum type C | Clinical suspicion type C |
Chad, 1958 | 2 (0) | None* | Ham (Homemade): Presence of BoNT/D and C. botulinum type D | Clinical suspicion type D |
Rhodesia, 1960 | 4 (0) | None* | “Pâté” (Homemade): Absence of BoNT Presence of C. botulinum type B or C | Clinical suspicion type B or C |
France, 1972 | 4 (1) | Sera: Presence of BoNT/C | Smoked chicken suspected (not analyzed) | Foodborne botulism type C |
Japan, 1990 | 1 (0) | Stool: Presence of BoNT/C | Environmental contamination suspected (no samples analyzed) | Infant Botulism type C |
France, 2006 | 1 (0) | Serum: absence of BoNT Stool: Absence of BoNT and C. botulinum |
Consumption of sick chicken before onset of symptoms | Clinical suspicion type C or D |
BoNT, Botulinum neurotoxin. In bold in the table, confirmed case of botulism. *Case: Having shown at least one typical sign of botulism: diplopia, mydriasis, swallowing difficulties, dry mouth, slurred speech, paralysis, constipation (vomiting and diarrhea are not specific to botulism). **Suspected or confirmed sources.