France: Botulism in Bordeaux: one dead, 7 people in acute care

One person died among those suffering from botulism, a rare neurological disease, after eating in the same restaurant in Bordeaux last week, the Directorate General of Health (DGS) announced Tuesday evening.

In total, 10 cases “clinically suggestive of foodborne botulism” were reported to the health authorities. Eight people remain hospitalized in Bordeaux and Île-de-France, seven of whom are placed in intensive care or in a continuous monitoring unit, specifies the DGS in a message published on the website of the Ministry of Health.

A final person apparently affected has returned abroad in the meantime. Most are of foreign nationality (American, Canadian and German), the Regional Health Agency in Nouvelle-Aquitaine indicated on Tuesday.

“The patients all frequented the same bar in Bordeaux, the Tchin Tchin Wine bar, over the last week,” the Nouvelle-Aquitaine prefecture and the Regional Health Agency said in a press release. “The suspected foods at this stage are homemade canned sardines made by the restaurant owner.”

“We have five patients admitted to intensive care, including four intubated, and three in continuing care,” Benjamin Clouzeau, intensive care doctor at CHU Pellegrin, declared to AFP on Tuesday, specifying that “all of these patients have benefited from anti-inflammatory treatment. toxin”.

“Their condition can potentially persist for several weeks”, during which “multiple complications” can arise, according to him. “This is exceptional. In France we have between 20 and 30 cases per year. There, we had nine, since one person went back abroad in the meantime,” he added.

The last contaminating meal potentially dates from Saturday, the doctor does not rule out the arrival of other patients for a few days. It calls on people with digestive signs (diarrhea, vomiting) or vision or speech problems, after having attended the establishment concerned, to contact the emergency services to benefit from anti-toxin treatment “as early as possible”. possible”.

The departmental directorate for population protection (DDPP) took samples in the establishment and all the canned goods were recorded pending the results of the analyses, “within three days”, according to the prefecture and ARS. The establishment remains open but with reduced service (wine and snacks).

“I admit that I had a batch of sterilized sardines and when I opened them I had to throw away some that had a strong smell. Others appeared healthy and were served to customers,” the restaurant manager told the Sud Ouest newspaper, which revealed the information. “I am devastated for these customers if it turns out they got sick at my house,” he added.

Botulism is a notifiable disease, caused by botulinum neurotoxins divided into 8 types (A to H) which attack the nervous system and cause eye problems (double vision), difficulty swallowing and, in advanced forms , paralysis of the muscles, particularly respiratory, which can lead to death.