Five people in intensive care with botulism after eating pesto sauce in central France

What is botulism?

Botulism is caused by bacteria that produce toxins that attack the human nervous system.

Symptoms may initially include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or dizziness. Then people may have blurred or double vision, and difficulty swallowing, speaking, or breathing. If botulism is not recognized and treated early, it can be fatal.

In most cases, people get sick from food that is preserved incorrectly, such as artisanal or home-made canned vegetables or meat. In addition to foodborne botulism, the disease can also occur in humans through contact with dead fish and dead waterfowl.