one death and twelve cases now recorded

2023-09-13 06:11:51

A person died in Ile-de-France, probably suffering from botulism, a rare neurological disease, after eating in a restaurant in Bordeaux last week, the Directorate General of Health announced on Tuesday evening, September 12.

According to Benjamin Clouzeau, anesthetist-resuscitator at the Pellegrin hospital in Bordeaux, twelve people were now identified on Wednesday morning, including eight treated at the city’s university hospital center (CHU). “Seven (are) in intensive care, five on respiratory assistance and one placed in a continuing care unit », he detailed to Agence France-Presse (AFP). “There are other cases linked to the Bordeaux outbreak, including a German who had returned and who was taken care of in his country, a priori he is fine”added Mr. Clouzeau, referring to a similar case in Barcelona, ​​Spain.

Most sick people “are of foreign nationality (United States, Canada, Germany). They all frequented the same bar in Bordeaux over the last week, the Tchin Tchin Wine Bar”explained Tuesday in a press release the prefecture of Nouvelle-Aquitaine and the regional health agency (ARS). “The suspected foods at this stage are canned sardines homemade by the restaurant owner. »

Benefit from treatment “as early as possible”

The last contaminating meal potentially dates from Saturday, the authorities do not exclude the arrival of other patients for a few days. Mr. Clouzeau on Tuesday called on people with digestive signs (diarrhea, vomiting) or vision or speech problems, after having attended the establishment concerned, to contact the emergency services to benefit from antitoxin treatment. “as early as possible”.

According to the anesthetist-resuscitator, the treatment of patients in intensive care promises to be long, “because once the toxin is blocked and fixed, it paralyzes the muscles for several weeks”with various risks of complications.

“The immediate risk of this disease is to die from paralysis of the respiratory muscles. Once put on respiratory assistance, this risk disappears, but we find ourselves in a situation of total dependence on the machine”declared the practitioner to AFP.

The departmental directorate for population protection (DDPP) took samples in the establishment and all the canned goods were recorded pending the results of the analyses, which should be known “within three days”, according to the prefecture and the ARS. The establishment remains open, but with reduced service (wine and snacks).

“I admit that I had a batch of sterilized sardines and that, upon opening, I had to throw away some which had a strong odor. Others appeared healthy and were served to customers”the restaurant manager told the newspaper South Westwho revealed the information. “I am devastated for these customers if it turns out they got sick at my place”he added.

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Botulism is a notifiable disease, caused by botulinum neurotoxins divided into 8 types (from A to H) which attack the nervous system and cause eye problems (double vision), difficulty swallowing and, in forms advanced, paralysis of the muscles, particularly respiratory, which can lead to death.

The World with AFP

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