What it is: Botulism is a rare but serious illness caused by a nerve toxin produced by bacteria. Botulism can be fatal and is considered a medical emergency. The illness is also considered a public health emergency because contaminated food or water may still be present and cause others to get sick.

How it’s spread: Naturally occurring botulism is most often spread through eating contaminated foods. However, if botulism were used in bioterrorism, it could either be spread through food, water or the air. It is not contagious – it cannot be spread person to person.

Symptoms: Unlike typical food poisoning that often includes vomiting, and stomach cramps, symptoms of botulism include double vision, blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, and difficulty swallowing and dry mouth. Muscle weakness, which generally starts in the upper body and works its way down also occurs. People with botulism are usually alert and do not have a fever.

The length of time it takes for symptoms to develop can vary depending on the way a person was exposed and the amount of toxin in the exposure. Symptoms generally appear between 1 and 5 days after exposure.

Treatment: Botulism is a very serious disease and can be fatal without medical treatment. If you believe you’ve been exposed to botulism, contact your healthcare provider immediately. If diagnosed early, botulism can be treated with a medicine that blocks the action of the toxin circulating in the blood, and can lessen the severity of the illness.

In Massachusetts, all cases of suspected botulism are required to be reported immediately by healthcare providers to local health departments. In Boston, suspect cases of botulism should be reported by healthcare providers to the Boston Public Health Commission at 617-534-5611.

Prevention: All canned and preserved foods should be properly processed and prepared. Bulging containers or jars should not be opened and foods with offensive odors should not be eaten.

Exposure and Environmental Cleanup: Although botulism toxin is extremely potent, it is easy to kill by heating contaminated food or liquid to 85 degrees Fahrenheit for at least five minutes. If used as a bioterrorism agent and sprayed from a pressurized container, the toxin will typically break-up and become harmless within two days. In the event of an aerosol exposure, soap and water should be used to wash skin and clothing. Other surfaces should be avoided for two days; if more rapid decontamination is necessary, surfaces can be cleaned with household bleach.

The information in this section was compiled from the following sources:
http://jama.ama-assn.org/issues/v285n8/ffull/jst00017.html
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/botulism_g.htm
http://www.bt.cdc.gov