Disease

Botulism in Ohio, USA

Five people were in critical condition, 15 others were ill and one has died after an outbreak of botulism, a potentially life-threatening disease caused by a neurotoxin produced by bacteria, Ohio health officials announced Tuesday. Everyone sickened by the disease had attended a church potluck on Sunday at the Cross Pointe Free Will Baptist Church in Lancaster, Ohio, about 30 miles southeast of Columbus, according to local media reports.

Foodborne botulism is caused by ingesting food contaminated with the bacteria Clostridium botulinum, or C. botulinum. The toxin produced by the bacteria is one of the most potent toxins known to man and results in severe food poisoning. Food that hasn’t been properly processed or was canned at home are the most common vehicles of C. botulinum.