Three Children Die of Suspected Food Poisoning in Bara, Nepal
Three children from the same family in Bara, Nepal have died of suspected food poisoning.
The incident occurred after the family consumed a meal of rice and fish curry on Sunday night. Only the children were affected, while their mother and grandparents, who ate the same food, showed no symptoms of illness. The children’s father was not home and is reportedly working in India.
Initially taken to a local clinic, the children were then transferred to a provincial hospital. One child died en route, while the other two passed away during treatment.
Police have not found evidence of toxic substances in the home and are investigating whether the children might have consumed something else prior to the evening meal. Autopsies have been completed, and the bodies have been released to the family.
The investigation is ongoing to determine the exact cause of the incident.
DIY BotoxTreatment Leads to Hospitalization for Hong Kong Woman
A 50-year-old Hong Kong woman is in stable condition at a local hospital after developing botulism from a self-administered botulinum toxin injection. The incident occurred in Shenzhen, China, where the woman injected herself at a friend’s home with materials purchased online in July.
Hong Kong’s Centre for Health Protection reported that the patient experienced common symptoms of botulism including difficulty swallowing and speaking, drooping eyelids, and limb weakness. She initially sought treatment in Shenzhen before returning to Hong Kong and visiting Kwong Wah Hospital.
Botulism is a rare but serious illness caused by toxins produced by Clostridium botulinum bacteria. The most common source of infection is consuming contaminated food, often due to improper handling or preservation. Homemade pickled foods and improperly canned goods are frequent culprits.
Symptoms of botulism typically appear within 12 to 72 hours after exposure, though they can manifest as early as two hours or as late as eight days post-consumption.
Food Poisoning News has previously reported on cases of botox infection from questionable beauty treatments, including seven people who were sickened in the U.S. from counterfeit botox injections and another woman from Hong Kong who fell critically ill after receiving botox injections from an unlicensed parlor in mainland China.
In Hong Kong, only registered doctors can perform botulinum injections. The Centre for Health Protection has advised the public to ensure practitioner qualifications when receiving treatments outside Hong Kong, avoid using botulinum from suspicious sources, and seek medical attention if feeling unwell after treatment.
The incident is under investigation, and mainland China authorities have been notified.
Ukrainian Woman Hospitalized with Botulism
An elderly woman in Khmelnytsky, Ukraine, has been diagnosed with botulism after consuming home-canned meat. The patient is currently in serious condition in the intensive care unit of the Khmelnytsky Infectious Diseases Hospital. According to hospital officials, this marks the first recorded case of botulism in the Khmelnytsky region.
Medical professionals have administered anti-botulinum serum to the patient and are following the necessary treatment protocols. The Khmelnytsky Regional Center for Disease Control and Prevention has reiterated the importance of botulism prevention, urging caution when consuming canned vegetables, meat, and fish.
In a statement, officials stressed that while botulism can have serious consequences, it is often preventable by adhering to proper food safety practices when canning.
On a related note, 15 people across the Ukraine were hospitalized with botulism in June, primarily due to consumption of dried fish and home-canned meat. At the time, officials had logged 39 cases of botulism in the country since the beginning of the year, compared to 45 cases during the same period in 2023.
Food Poisoning News has reported on multiple incidents of botulism this year including two sisters who were hospitalized after eating a salad containing home-canned cactus pads and a large outbreak in Moscow tied to tainted food from an online delivery platform that led to over 120 hospitalizations, with many displaying extreme symptoms.
Commenting on these stories, one national botulism lawyer said, “Botulism is a rare but potentially serious type of food poisoning. If not treated, it can lead to death. To reduce the risk of infection from spoiled food, consumers should follow safe canning tips. For botox treatments, consumers should always seek out qualified, licensed providers.”
