Tragedy struck a restaurant in Bordeaux, France, as one woman lost her life to botulism after consuming sardines, while 12 others, primarily foreigners, are undergoing treatment for the rare and serious condition, according to French health authorities.
Botulism is a severe neurological ailment often triggered by the consumption of improperly preserved food.
Investigations revealed that the restaurant in Bordeaux’s city center had preserved the sardines in question itself, as reported by the DGS health authority on Tuesday.
The deceased woman initially sought medical attention in a hospital near Paris after returning home with her partner. Tragically, she passed away at home, while her partner remains in intensive care.
As of Wednesday, 12 individuals were still receiving emergency treatment, with five of them requiring respiratory support. The affected individuals include American, Irish, German, and Canadian nationals.
Some of those affected traveled to their home countries for treatment, including a German national and a resident of Barcelona, Spain, according to Dr. Benjamin Clouzeau at Bordeaux’s Pellegrin Hospital.
All the affected individuals had dined at the “Tchin Tchin Wine Bar” restaurant between September 4 and 10, a period when the town typically sees a high influx of tourists, given its reputation for wine and gastronomy.
These patrons had consumed sardines that the restaurant owner had personally preserved in jars, the DGS health authority noted.
Botulism poses a fatality risk in 5% to 10% of cases, primarily due to the toxin produced by the clostridium botulinum bacteria when inadequately sterilized food is consumed.
Authorities are still conducting tests at the restaurant and cannot rule out the possibility of further botulism cases, as the condition has an incubation period of several days. Efforts are underway to contact others who may have consumed sardines at the restaurant, potentially affecting a total of 25 individuals.
Botulism can lead to muscle paralysis lasting several weeks, with the most immediate danger arising from the paralysis of respiratory muscles. An international health alert has been issued, urging hospitals to be vigilant for patients who recently visited Bordeaux and display symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, or issues with vision or speech.
