The Center for Health Protection is investigating a confirmed case of botulism involving a 59-year-old male patient who works in Hong Kong but lives in Shenzhen. The patient developed weakness of limbs, blurred vision and slurred speech successively since the 13th of this month. He was admitted to North District Hospital on the same day and stayed in the intensive care unit. The clinical diagnosis was botulism and he is currently in critical condition. His stool sample tested positive for the botulinum toxin gene. Epidemiological investigation is still going on. The spokesman said that botulism is a rare and serious disease caused by the neurotoxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. The spores produced by botulinum are heat resistant and ubiquitous in the environment. The spores germinate, grow and produce botulinum toxin in the absence of oxygen. Toxins can impede nerve function, so patients may experience drooping eyelids, double vision or blurred vision, difficulty chewing, hoarse voice, and even problems in swallowing, speaking or breathing, and even paralysis. The spokesman reminded members of the public to seek medical advice as soon as possible if symptoms of botulism develop.
2023-07-28 12:59:29
#CHP #investigates #confirmed #case #botulism
