While riding an electric bike through France’s Bordeaux wine country, Matt Jackson began experiencing unusual symptoms. Now, nine days later, he finds himself connected to a breathing machine in a French intensive care unit, unable to open his eyes and only able to communicate through notes on a whiteboard. Jackson has been diagnosed with botulism, believed to be contracted from preserved sardines that he and others consumed at a Bordeaux wine bar. Unfortunately, a 32-year-old woman from Paris has already lost her life to this rare and potentially fatal illness. French authorities have launched a nationwide appeal to find others who may have consumed the contaminated sardines and could be at risk.
Visitors from various countries, including the US, Ireland, Canada, Germany, and Spain, have also fallen sick after consuming the sardines, according to regional health authority ARS. Jackson’s partner, Kristy Benner, who was with him at the wine bar, also started experiencing symptoms after a couple of days. She initially suspected botulism, but doctors were initially skeptical. It took several days to confirm the link to the sardines and provide both of them with the necessary anti-toxins. French hospitals rarely encounter cases of botulism, with only 10 to 20 cases reported nationwide each year.
Botulism is a rare illness caused by consuming foods contaminated with the botulinum toxin. It can lead to paralysis, breathing difficulties, and in severe cases, death. Improperly canned, preserved, or fermented homemade foods are common sources of the toxin. So far, at least 12 people who consumed the preserved sardines between September 4th and September 10th have been hospitalized. While some have been released, the majority remain in intensive care or critical condition. All patients have shown symptoms typical of botulism, such as severe abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, blurred vision, dry mouth, difficulty swallowing or speaking, and neurological problems.
(Read more botulism stories.)
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