BOTULISM KILLS FIVE PEOPLE, AFFECTS 43 OTHERS THIS YEAR
ArmenPress
Dec 21 2004
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 21, ARMENPRESS: Forty-nine cases of a rare disease
known as botulism were registered in Armenia this year, killing
five and causing a great deal of suffering to 43 others, including
8 children below the age of 14.
Though most of these cases involve babies whose immune systems aren’t
as strong as older kids and adults, so they can’t fight off the
bacteria, botulism usually occurs after eating improperly cooked or
preserved foods. The botulism bacteria release a poison, also called
a toxin, which travels through the blood to attach to the nerves that
control your muscles.
This year’s cases outnumbered 13 botulism cases reported last year
with 17 people affected three of whom died.
Botulism cases in Armenia occur usually in winter when many families
start eating home-made preserves, despite the health ministry’s warning
against using such food or its instructions to at least thorough cook
such food by boiling it for ten minutes to destroy the botulism toxin.