Botulism - Ireland (County Mayo) ex Poland

International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>

Source: Mayo News [edited]
< http://www.mayonews.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=364&Itemid=38>

Ireland's 1st case of [human] botulism in over 20 years is being
treated in the Mayo General Hospital in Castlebar.

The Mayo News has learned that a Polish national is in the hospital's
intensive care unit recovering from the potentially fatal and
paralytic illness. A Health Services Executive spokeswoman declined,
however, to confirm the precise nature of the man's illness. She did
confirm that a Polish man, who was in a coma, is now in a stable
condition in the hospital.  It is believed the man became ill after
eating a home-cooked meal sent by his wife from Poland.

It seems the rare occurrences of botulism meant that the hospital
pharmacy did not hold a supply of its antitoxin. Fortunately,
Westport's pharmaceutical company, Allergan, was in the unique
position of providing a solution to the life-threatening situation.

A Garda (Ireland's police force) spokesman confirmed that Westport
Garda Station was contacted on 9 Sep 2006 regarding a Polish man
living in the town who had been admitted to Mayo General Hospital the
previous day in a critical condition. "A doctor requested that we go
to the man's home and remove some food boxes from the fridge for
analysis in the hospital's laboratory," said the Garda spokesman.

It is not reported what kind of food was ingested and how it was
stored during transportation from Poland to Ireland.  As was noted
recently related to a cluster of botulism from commercial carrot
juice (ProMED post 20060916.2638), proper refrigeration and storage
after preparation is important.