HOLIDAYMAKERS heading to Spain this summer have been warned of a deadly food bug found in a popular local dish.
Officials have connected several botulism illnesses in popular tourist hotspots to supermarket omelettes.
GettyThe toxin found in omelettes can cause paralysis and even death[/caption]
Five confirmed and four probable cases have been identified as of 24 July 2023.
Botulism is a potentially fatal poisoning that is caused by eating foods that have been contaminated with the botulinum toxin.
These toxins attack the nervous system and can lead to paralysis, which spreads down the body from the head to the lungs.
The Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (AESAN) said infections occurred in different regions of the country, including Galicia, Asturias, Valencia, Madrid and Andalusia.
Italy also recorded two cases of botulism linked to Spanish omelette consumed in Spain
“In all cases there was a history of having consumed precooked potato omelettes, packaged and purchased in different supermarkets from different brands,” it said.
Three individuals who tested positive were hospitalised and no one has died.
Grupo Empresarial Palacios Alimentación – who make omelettes connected to the infections – have recalled their product and halted production.
It’s believed some of the infected products could have also been distributed to France and Portugal.
So far this year in Spain, 21 other suspected cases of botulism have been reported.
Spanish officials reminded consumers of the importance, especially in summer due to the heat, of preserving foods properly.
They added the packaged Spanish omelette products should be kept refrigerated.
What are the symptoms of botulism?
It can take anywhere between a few hours or several days for symptoms of botulism to develop, after exposure to the bacteria or their toxins.
Initial symptoms include:
Feeling sickVomitingStomach crampsDiarrhoeaConstipation
If the condition has developed further into paralysis, the symptoms include:
Drooping eyelidsBlurred or double visionFacial muscle weaknessDifficulty swallowingSlurred speechBreathing difficultiesIn babies: a weak cry, difficulty feeding and a floppy head, neck and limbs
Botulism is a serious condition which requires IMMEDIATE medical attention. If you think you or someone else is affected, call 999 or go straight to A&E.
Treatment will not cure any paralysis which has already occurred, but it will stop it getting worse.
In most people, paralysis which occurred before treatment will gradually get better over the following weeks or months.