Clinical Infectious Diseases
Volume 66, 2017, Pages S82-S84

Outbreak of Foodborne Botulism in an Immigrant Community: Overcoming Delayed Disease Recognition, Ambiguous Epidemiologic Links, and Cultural Barriers to Identify the Cause (Article) (Open Access)

Harvey R.R.* , Cooper R. , Bennett S. , Richardson M. , Duke D. , Stoughton C. , Smalligan R. , Gaul L. , Drenzek C. , Griffin P.M. , Geissler A. , Rao A.K.
  • a Epidemic Intelligence Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States, Enteric Diseases Epidemiology Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1095 Willowdale Road, Morgantown, WV 26505, United States
  • b Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, United States
  • c Enteric Diseases Epidemiology Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1095 Willowdale Road, Morgantown, WV 26505, United States
  • d Amarillo Department of Public Health, Amarillo, United States
  • e Amarillo Environmental Health Department, Amarillo, United States
  • f Amarillo Department of Public Health, Amarillo, United States
  • g Potter and Randall Counties Public Health Authority, Amarillo, United States
  • h Texas Department of State Health Services, Austin, United States
  • i Georgia Department of Public Health, Atlanta, United States
  • j Enteric Diseases Epidemiology Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1095 Willowdale Road, Morgantown, WV 26505, United States
  • k Enteric Diseases Epidemiology Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1095 Willowdale Road, Morgantown, WV 26505, United States
  • l Enteric Diseases Epidemiology Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1095 Willowdale Road, Morgantown, WV 26505, United States

Abstract

We describe a botulism outbreak involving 4 Middle Eastern men complicated by delayed diagnosis, ambiguous epidemiologic links among patients, and illness onset dates inconsistent with a point-source exposure. Homemade turshi, a fermented vegetable dish, was the likely cause. Patients ate turshi at 2 locations on different days over 1 month. ©2018 Oxford University Press.All right reserved.

Author Keywords

foodborne illness botulism outbreak

Index Keywords

male Emigrants and Immigrants case report Botulism Humans adult Cultural Characteristics cultural factor Disease Outbreaks epidemic Young Adult human delayed diagnosis migrant Texas
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85058850888&doi=10.1093%2fcid%2fcix817&partnerID=40&md5=e313b4c4c13c8bf47ced01f9db1a8855
DOI: 10.1093/cid/cix817
ISSN: 10584838
Cited by: 4
Original Language: English