A CONTINUING COMMON-SOURCE OUTBREAK OF BOTULISM IN A FAMILY

Marcus A. Horwitz; John S. Marr; Michael H. Merson; V. R. Dowell; Jay M. Ellis

doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(75)90246-9

A CONTINUING COMMON-SOURCE OUTBREAK OF BOTULISM IN A FAMILY

Marcus A. Horwitz, John S. Marr, Michael H. Merson, V. R. Dowell, Jay M. Ellis

Global Public Health

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Abstract

In December, 1974, three cases of botulism occurred in a family; two were fatal. The first patient died after a 10-day illness without botulism being suspected. 4 days later, after a 2-day illness, the second patient was diagnosed as having botulism after a cardiorespiratory arrest; she died 3 days later. In the third patient, the only symptom was dysphagia. Clostridium botulinum type B was found in stool specimens from all three patients. Home-canned (bottled) mushrooms, which were found to contain C. botulinumtype B and its toxin, were believed to be responsible for the outbreak; mushrooms were found at necropsy in the gastrointestinal tracts of both patients who died. Heat treatment of the mushrooms during canning had been inadequate.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	861-863
Number of pages	3
Journal	The Lancet
Volume	306
Issue number	7940
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(75)90246-9
State	Published - Nov 1 1975

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Medicine

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10.1016/S0140-6736(75)90246-9

Cite this

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title = "A CONTINUING COMMON-SOURCE OUTBREAK OF BOTULISM IN A FAMILY",

abstract = "In December, 1974, three cases of botulism occurred in a family; two were fatal. The first patient died after a 10-day illness without botulism being suspected. 4 days later, after a 2-day illness, the second patient was diagnosed as having botulism after a cardiorespiratory arrest; she died 3 days later. In the third patient, the only symptom was dysphagia. Clostridium botulinum type B was found in stool specimens from all three patients. Home-canned (bottled) mushrooms, which were found to contain C. botulinumtype B and its toxin, were believed to be responsible for the outbreak; mushrooms were found at necropsy in the gastrointestinal tracts of both patients who died. Heat treatment of the mushrooms during canning had been inadequate.",

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AU - Marr, John S.

AU - Merson, Michael H.

AU - Dowell, V. R.

AU - Ellis, Jay M.

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AB - In December, 1974, three cases of botulism occurred in a family; two were fatal. The first patient died after a 10-day illness without botulism being suspected. 4 days later, after a 2-day illness, the second patient was diagnosed as having botulism after a cardiorespiratory arrest; she died 3 days later. In the third patient, the only symptom was dysphagia. Clostridium botulinum type B was found in stool specimens from all three patients. Home-canned (bottled) mushrooms, which were found to contain C. botulinumtype B and its toxin, were believed to be responsible for the outbreak; mushrooms were found at necropsy in the gastrointestinal tracts of both patients who died. Heat treatment of the mushrooms during canning had been inadequate.

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A CONTINUING COMMON-SOURCE OUTBREAK OF BOTULISM IN A FAMILY

Abstract

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