Botulism is a rare but severe paralytic illness caused by neurotoxins produced by *Clostridium botulinum* bacteria. These toxins attack the body's nerves, leading to muscle weakness and paralysis. It can affect people of all ages, typically through contaminated food, wounds, or in infants.
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Botulism was first linked to food poisoning, particularly sausages (hence its name from Latin 'botulus'). The causative bacterium, *Clostridium botulinum*, was discovered in 1895 by Emile van Ermengem following an outbreak. Its historical significance lies in identifying a potent neurotoxin and its role in food safety and preservation.
Botulism is not transmitted person-to-person. The primary routes include **foodborne botulism** (ingestion of pre-formed toxin in improperly processed or preserved foods, especially home-canned items), **wound botulism** (spores entering a wound and producing toxin), and **infant botulism** (ingestion of spores that germinate and produce toxin in the infant's gut, often from honey or soil).
Contagious Period: Varies by disease
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Seek care if you experience severe dehydration, bloody stools, high fever, or symptoms lasting more than 3 days. Children under 5, adults over 65, and immunocompromised individuals should seek care earlier.
Emergency symptoms: Severe dehydration, inability to keep fluids down for 12 or more hours, or neurological symptoms require emergency care.
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Trusted information from leading health organizations
Official guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
View CDC Resources →Global disease surveillance and guidelines from the World Health Organization
View WHO Resources →Disease information on Virus Watcher is reviewed by our Chief Epidemiologist, a former CDC lead analyst for FluSight forecasting. Outbreak data is aggregated from verified sources including BEACON, ProMED, WHO, CDC, and 50+ national health agencies. This information is for educational purposes and should not replace professional medical advice.
Last reviewed: 2026-07-18
No confirmed cases reported in Georgia yet. Here are the latest Botulism reports from our global surveillance network.
This event envelope contains reports on foodborne botulism clusters in Romania. *Source: BEACON* - [View Full Report](https://beaconbio.org/en/event/?eventid=b35437b8-20f0-43a8-9ca6-a3f5ef18073f)
Recalled tuna cans containing a 'potentially fatal' botulism warning were mistakenly shipped to consumers across nine states. Immediate public action is required to avoid consumption of the affected product. <!-- hash:adc4c7cb5c781982e7a66aa9aa7d1b19 -->
An unprecedented outbreak of infant botulism linked to ByHeart powdered infant formula resulted in 48 cases across 18 states from August to December 2025, representing the first documented foodborne outbreak of this disease in US history. Laboratory investigations confirmed Clost…
Foodborne botulism in the United States is a rare but serious illness caused by ingesting preformed Clostridium botulinum neurotoxin, typically from improperly processed home-canned foods. According to the CDC, the US reports an average of 15–20 foodborne botulism cases annually,…
This event envelope contains reports on botulism cases and clusters in Viet Nam. *Source: BEACON* - [View Full Report](https://beaconbio.org/en/event/?eventid=631f8978-2c97-4b49-a50a-a395b2bff139)
An organic baby formula sold at Target has been voluntarily recalled by the manufacturer after three infants who consumed the product were infected with a deadly bacterium. According to the FDA, the makers of Nara Organics Powdered Infant Formula are recalling all lots of the pr…
Ukraine reports 12 confirmed adult cases of botulism across six regions in the first four months of 2026, linked to consumption of improperly preserved homemade foods and fish products. Although current case counts appear below the past decade's annual average, underreporting in …
This event envelope contains reports on infant botulism in Puerto Rico. *Source: BEACON* - [View Full Report](https://beaconbio.org/en/event/?eventid=08bd62e4-04c5-4b70-909d-16fb9d8dc646)
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