A person died, probably suffering from botulism, a rare neurological disease, after eating in a restaurant in Bordeaux last week, the Directorate General of Health announced on Tuesday evening, September 12. In addition, eight people who attended the same establishment are hospitalized in Bordeaux and Ile-de-France, seven of whom were in intensive care on Tuesday.
In total, 10 cases “clinically suggestive of food-borne botulism” were reported to health authorities. A final person apparently affected has returned abroad in the meantime.
Most of the sick people “are of foreign nationality (United States, Canada, Germany). They all frequented the same bar in Bordeaux over the last week, the Tchin Tchin Wine Bar,” the Nouvelle-Aquitaine prefecture and the Regional Health Agency (ARS) explained in a press release on Tuesday. “The suspected food at this stage is home-made canned sardines made by the restaurant owner. »
Benefit from treatment “as early as possible”
The last contaminating meal potentially dates from Saturday, the authorities do not exclude the arrival of other patients for a few days. Benjamin Clouzeau, resuscitation doctor at CHU Pellegrin, called on people presenting digestive signs (diarrhea, vomiting) or vision or speech problems, after having attended the establishment concerned, to contact the emergency services to benefit from antitoxin treatment “as early as 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, which should be known “within three days”, according to the prefecture and the 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 (from A to H) which attack the nervous system and cause eye problems (double vision), difficulty swallowing and, in forms advanced, paralysis of the muscles, particularly respiratory, which can lead to death.