KHUJAND, March 27, 2014, Asia-Plus - 33 residents of the Qahramon village in Sughd’s Asht district have contracted botulism poisoning by eating home-canned tomatoes, according to the Sughd Center for Sanitary and Epidemiological Supervision.

“Four of them are currently in the intensive care unit and health conditions of three others are estimated as of moderate severity while the remaining 26 persons are now in no danger,” the source said, noting that all of them were diagnosed with botulism.

“On March 21, some 95 residents of the village of Qahramon gathered to celebrate the Navrouz holiday and 33 of them contracted botulism poisoning by eating home-canned tomatoes,” said the source.  “On March 23, they were taken to the Asht central district hospital, where they were vaccinated against botulism.”

Botulism is a rare and potentially fatal paralytic illness caused by a toxin produced by the bacteria Clostridium botulinum.  The disease begins with weakness, trouble seeing, feeling tired, and trouble speaking.  This may then be followed by weakness of the arms, chest muscles and legs. The disease does not usually affect consciousness or cause a fever.

Botulism can occur in a few different ways.  The bacterial spores that cause it are common in both soil and water. They produce botulinum toxin when exposed to low oxygen levels and certain temperatures. Foodborne botulism happens when foods containing the toxin are eaten.

Foodborne botulism results from contaminated food in which C. botulinum spores have been allowed to germinate in low oxygen conditions. This typically occurs in home-canned food substances and fermented uncooked dishes.  Given that multiple people often consume food from the same source, it is common for more than a single person to be affected simultaneously. Symptoms usually appear 12–36 hours after eating, but can also appear within 2 hours to 10 days.