CU Grad Matt Jackson Among Those Severely Ill After Botulism Outbreak Overseas

The parents of Matt Jackson are anxiously waiting for updates on their 41-year-old son, who remains critically ill in an intensive care unit in a French hospital. Matt was diagnosed with botulism poisoning, a condition caused by different forms of the botulinum bacteria that can thrive in low oxygen environments, such as home-canned or jarred goods.

“It’s like riding a roller coaster,” said Tom Jackson, Matt’s father. “But today was a bad day,” added Lynne Jackson.

Matt has now developed pneumonia, and French doctors are using three antibiotics in an attempt to treat him. Matt and his long-term girlfriend, Kristy Benner, both graduates of the University of Colorado and working in the lighting design industry in California, fell ill after dining at a wine bar in Bordeaux, France. They are among up to 25 people who are believed to have consumed contaminated sardines prepared by the restaurant. The couple had been on vacation since the beginning of September and decided to visit Tchin Tchin, a wine bar that came highly recommended.

“Tchin Tchin had been kind of on the top of our list to go visit. And it came highly regarded from multiple sources that we know and trust,” explained Benner.

An investigation by French authorities revealed that the operator of the restaurant served the sardines over a six-day period, even though some were found to have a foul smell and were discarded. Tragically, one 31-year-old woman has already died. The restaurant’s operator may now face charges of involuntary manslaughter as the French prosecutor conducts an investigation.

For some victims, symptoms took several days to appear. However, Matt started experiencing symptoms more quickly. “And then he just became very disoriented and very… it’s hard for him to speak. His mouth was super dry. I thought he was having a stroke,” said Benner. She had to call an ambulance to take him to the hospital. Initially, doctors were puzzled, as botulism is rare. In Colorado, there are only a handful of reported cases each year.

Botulism is caused by Clostridium botulinum, an anaerobic bacteria commonly found in soil and marine sediments worldwide. The bacteria form spores with a hard protective coating, allowing them to remain dormant for extended periods. The neurotoxin produced by the bacteria during their growth phase is highly toxic in even microscopic amounts.

“Many cases of foodborne botulism have occurred after consuming home-canned, preserved, or fermented foods that were contaminated with the toxin. The contamination may have occurred due to incorrect processing,” states the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Initially, there were concerns that Matt might have Guillain Barre Syndrome. However, as more individuals fell ill, including Benner, doctors focused on botulism. “I started feeling pretty unwell, like my extremities. And I just felt so tired, like I actually thought I might have COVID. It’s just that the swallowing thing was kind of weird. So I didn’t have COVID,” explained Benner.

In France, the anti-toxin is kept with the French military and had to be brought to the hospital. On the other hand, physicians in the United States obtain the anti-toxin from the CDC, according to Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Safety.

As the effects of botulism spread throughout Matt’s body, he became partially paralyzed. “His whole face is like a frozen face. And it went down into his shoulders and his arms and his legs,” shared his mother. Although he has regained some movement, it remains limited. The pneumonia is a setback. “All I want to do is just touch him and hug him and hold him,” expressed Lynne Jackson.

Matt’s brother and sister, who also reside in Colorado, hurried to France to be with him and Kristy. Friends have rallied support and launched a social media campaign to raise funds. While the family is facing this crisis, they have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support they have received. “In a lot of ways, it’s been an incredible learning experience for us showing how many friends and loved ones we actually have out there,” said Tom Jackson.

For more information, visit CBS News.