The Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) has recently confirmed a new case of botulism.The case is a 31-year-old male who resides in Taipei.On January 7, 2011, he developed symptoms such as vomiting, difficulty in swallowing, difficulty in breathing, drooping eyelids, and weakness of the arms and legs.On January 9, a hospital reported the patient as a suspected botulism case to the health authority.On January 12, Taiwan CDC confirmed botulism infection in the case.The type of botulinum toxin is being determined. Taiwan CDC has provided the antitoxin for treating the case.Currently, the case is conscious and his condition is stable. According to the epidemiological investigation conducted by the health authority, the case consumed homemade pickled vegetables three months prior to his disease onset, but did not consume any vacuum-packaged bean product.A sample of the homemade pickled vegetable the case consumed has been submitted to the Food and Drug Administration for laboratory testing to determine the source of the case’s infection.The case is this year’s first case of botulism infection confirmed in Taiwan.

Clostridium botulinum is ubiquitous in the environment.The sporulation of the bacterium occurs in an anaerobic environment.Any food product can be contaminated with clostridium botulinum spores if the food product is not properly sterilized during the manufacturing and packaging processes.In a vacuum-packaged environment, food can be unsafe from clostridium botulinum growth.The toxin produced by clostridium botulinum is sensitive to heat and can be destroyed by heating it at 100°C for 10 minutes.Any homemade pickled products or vacuum-packaged food should be boiled for 10 minutes prior to consumption in order to ensure food safety.

Botulism infection can be fatal if left untreated.Taiwan CDC urges all physicians to remain vigilant for suspected cases of botulism.Physicians may consider the diagnosis if a patient displays gastrointestinal symptoms or fatigue accompanied by neurological symptoms and signs related to botulism such as deterioration of sight, dilated pupils, drooping eyelids and/or weakness of the arms and legs.Physicians should report such cases to the health authority immediately to facilitate provision of antitoxin to treat the case and lower the risk of death.