Foodborne botulism outbreak in Bordeaux: 15 cases reported, including 10 hospitalizations and 1 death. Update as of September 14, 2023.
Following reports of several cases of botulism linked to the consumption of artisanal sardines at a restaurant in Bordeaux, Santé publique France is reminding everyone who has visited this establishment of the emergency measures they should take.
Botulism
thematic dossier
Caused by a bacterial neurotoxin produced by Clostridium botulinum, botulism is a form of poisoning that leads to neurological damage.
As of September 14, 2023, 15 suspected cases of botulism have been identified, 10 of whom are hospitalized. One person has died. These individuals are from several countries (the U.S., Canada, Ireland, the U.K., Spain, Germany, and Greece). They all visited the same restaurant-bar in Bordeaux, the Tchin Tchin Wine Bar, over the past week. The food involved consists of jars of sardines in oil, homemade by the restaurant owner and served between September 4 and 10, 2023, at this Bordeaux restaurant.
Type B botulism has been confirmed by the National Reference Center in several of these cases, and the bacteria responsible has been found in the suspected food items.
Investigations are ongoing to identify all individuals who may have consumed these sardines, and Santé publique France is, in this context, in contact with the national public health agencies of the other affected countries.
Health authorities, in collaboration with Santé publique France and the National Reference Center (CNR) for Botulism (Institut Pasteur), recommend that anyone who visited the Tchin Tchin Wine Bar (3 Rue Emile Duployé, 33000 Bordeaux) between Monday, September 4, and Sunday, September 10, 2023, to seek medical attention immediately or call 15 and mention botulism if symptoms appear after visiting the establishment.
The French health authorities, in collaboration with Santé publique France and the National Reference Centre for Botulism (Institut Pasteur), advise anyone who attended the Tchin Tchin Wine Bar in Bordeaux (3 Rue Emile Duployé, 33000 Bordeaux) between Monday, September 4, and Sunday, September 10, 2023, to urgently consult a doctor or contact emergency number 15, mentioning botulism, if they develop symptoms after visiting the restaurant.
What is botulism?
Botulism is a serious illness (fatal in 5 to 10% of cases) with an incubation period ranging from a few hours to a few days. Symptoms include, to varying degrees: early gastrointestinal signs that may be fleeting (abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, constipation, or diarrhea), eye problems (difficulty focusing, blurred or double vision), dry mouth accompanied by difficulty swallowing or even speaking, or neurological symptoms (choking, varying degrees of muscle paralysis). There is usually no fever.
What are the possible sources of contamination?
Botulism is a serious neurological condition caused by a highly potent toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. It develops particularly in improperly stored foods. In France, the majority of botulism cases result from food poisoning caused by ingesting the toxin produced by C. botulinum in preserved foods that have not undergone a thorough sterilization process: cured meats, deli meats, or homemade or artisanal preserves.
It is the extremely potent toxin it produces that causes the disease.
How can botulism be prevented, and what are the treatments?
Treatment for botulism is primarily symptomatic and, in severe cases, requires intensive respiratory care with mechanical ventilation. Administering botulinum antitoxin within hours or the first few days after symptoms begin can help shorten the hospital stay.
The vast majority of patients treated promptly recover without sequelae, but the duration of treatment and convalescence can last several months.
