Botulism strikes Nevada Couple
Marler Clark is currently investigating a botulism case from 2006. Some of what we have learned about the case so far follows:
On December 25, 2006, the couple prepared Christmas dinner for their family. One dish served for the dinner was a mashed potato dish that contained commercially canned seasoned chicken broth with roasted garlic. Three days later, on December 29, 2006, the couple was admitted to a local hospital with symptoms of botulism poisoning, including vomiting, sore throat, dry mouth, weakness, and slurred speech. The husband had become ill with a dry mouth and sore throat on December 26th, and the wife had become ill with dry mouth, dry throat, throat pain, and hoarseness on December 28th. Their symptoms progressed over the next several days, and by the 29th, both were transferred to the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit for medical treatment for suspected botulism poisoning. The Washoe County District Health Department (WCDHD) requested Clostridium botulinum antitoxin from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); the antitoxin was administered on December 30th.
WCHD isolated Clostridium botulinum type A toxin from the mashed potatoes and from the residual chicken broth found in the couple’s garbage. Their two sons did not become ill because they had not eaten the mashed potatoes made with the canned chicken broth with roasted garlic.
Medical treatment for the couple exceeded $1 million. The husband was hospitalized in acute care for 75 days, including 47 days on a ventilator. He spent 16 additional days in a rehabilitation facility. The wife was hospitalized for 69 days, including 38 days on a ventilator. She spent eight days in a rehabilitation facility after being released from the hospital. In May, neither the husband nor the wife had completely recovered from their illnesses.
Full WCHD REPORT
On December 25, 2006, the couple prepared Christmas dinner for their family. One dish served for the dinner was a mashed potato dish that contained commercially canned seasoned chicken broth with roasted garlic. Three days later, on December 29, 2006, the couple was admitted to a local hospital with symptoms of botulism poisoning, including vomiting, sore throat, dry mouth, weakness, and slurred speech. The husband had become ill with a dry mouth and sore throat on December 26th, and the wife had become ill with dry mouth, dry throat, throat pain, and hoarseness on December 28th. Their symptoms progressed over the next several days, and by the 29th, both were transferred to the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit for medical treatment for suspected botulism poisoning. The Washoe County District Health Department (WCDHD) requested Clostridium botulinum antitoxin from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); the antitoxin was administered on December 30th.
Due to their worsening medical condition, the couple had difficulty responding to questions from health department epidemiologists, and they were interviewed by WCDHD staff through several different methods. Those methods involved responding to questions by nodding their heads, raising their fingers, and moving their feet.
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WCHD isolated Clostridium botulinum type A toxin from the mashed potatoes and from the residual chicken broth found in the couple’s garbage. Their two sons did not become ill because they had not eaten the mashed potatoes made with the canned chicken broth with roasted garlic.
Medical treatment for the couple exceeded $1 million. The husband was hospitalized in acute care for 75 days, including 47 days on a ventilator. He spent 16 additional days in a rehabilitation facility. The wife was hospitalized for 69 days, including 38 days on a ventilator. She spent eight days in a rehabilitation facility after being released from the hospital. In May, neither the husband nor the wife had completely recovered from their illnesses.
Full WCHD REPORT
