One person has died and at least 20 others were hospitalized after an outbreak of botulism following a potluck dinner at a central Ohio church.
All of the patients attended a potluck on Sunday at Cross Pointe Free Will Baptist Church in Lancaster, about 30 miles southeast of Columbus. As many as 60 people ate at the event.
Five patients are in critical condition and 10 were taken to hospitals in Columbus, according to Fairfield Medical Center in Lancaster.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday released 50 vials of antitoxin from the Strategic National Stockpile for the patients, according to CDC spokesman Tom Skinner.
“It is being sent in as quickly as we can get it,” Dr. Andrew Murry with Fairfield Medical Center told CNN affiliate WSYX.
Botulism can be fatal, with symptoms typically beginning within 36 hours of consuming contaminated food. The infection can result in paralysis, double vision, difficulty swallowing and respiratory failure.
“In this day and age, botulism from food is fairly rare. Generally it’s canned foods,” Murry said. “The fatality rate is usually fairly low.”
Botulism is not contagious.
“It is not a threat to our patients, visitors or staff or the community at large,” Murry said.
