Brits, US and Irish tourists are hospitalised with botulism after eating sardines at a
Brits, US and Irish tourists are hospitalised with botulism after eating sardines at a Bordeaux restaurant – with one woman killed
- Eight people taken to hospital and one person has died from the outbreak
- They ate at Tchin Tchin Wine Bar in Bordeaux between September 4 and 10
- Botulism is a rare but life-threatening condition that can cause paralysis
British, Irish and American tourists are among a number of people who are being treated in hospital for botulism after eating sardines at a Bordeaux restaurant.
A 32-year-old woman has died and at least eight others are in hospital with the rare but life-threatening condition.
The French Health agency linked the outbreak to homemade sardines from the Tchin Tchin Wine Bar in Bordeaux.
They also confirmed that diners who fell ill ate at the restaurant between September 4 and September 10.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said they were notified of a ‘small number of British nationals’ who were affected.
British and Irish tourists are among a number of people who have been hospitalised with botulism, after eating sardines at a Bordeaux restaurant
They tweeted a warning to Britons, urging them to contact their local emergency department immediately if they had eaten there between those dates.
Botulism does not spread from person to person and there is no risk to the general population.
It is a serious condition caused by toxins produced by bacteria when food is improperly preserved.
These toxins attack the nervous system and can cause paralysis – symptoms include drooping eyelids, blurred or double vision and facial muscle weakness.
A UKHSA statement said: ‘Individuals who have been identified by the French authorities and have returned to the UK are receiving medical attention.’
It added that ‘there may be more people now in the UK who ate at the Bordeaux restaurant whom the French authorities have not been able to trace’.
Ireland’s Health Service said that it had been made aware of a ‘small number’ of Irish citizens who are affected and are being treated in France.
It has also been reported that the woman who died is the wife of an Irish national.
Two American tourists, Matt Jackson and Kristy Brenner, are also confirmed to be within the group.
The French Health agency linked the outbreak to homemade sardines from the Tchin Tchin Wine Bar in Bordeux
It was confirmed that diners who are affected, ate at the restaurant between September 4 and September 10
Two US tourists, Matt Jackson and Kristy Brenner, are also confirmed to be part of the group
A GoFundMe page set up by their family and friends, says that their ‘vacation in France went from amazing to nightmarish in a matter of hours’.
On September 11, lab results confirmed that both Matt and Kristy has botulism from eating at the Tchin Tchin Wine Bar.
The fundraiser, which is already at over $48,600, says that the couple went under antitoxin treatment that was flown to Bordeaux.
It says that ‘Kristy was thankfully discharged’ two days ago but ‘Matt’s response to Botulism has been extremely severe, and the road to recovery is anticipated to be long,’ adding that his ‘ability to do much of anything is compromised at the moment’.
The NHS website says that ‘treatment will not immediately reverse any paralysis that’s already been caused by the toxin, but will stop it getting any worse’.
It adds: ‘In most people, paralysis that occurred before treatment will gradually improve over the following weeks or months.’