European authorities have moved to the top after detecting 14 cases of severe botulism in citizens of Germany, Austria and Switzerland who underwent treatment at weight loss clinics in Turkey. Affected, 12 of them Germans, injection with intragastric injection of botulinum toxin, a treatment against obesity, as reported by the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC, in the English acronym).
Among the German patients, there are 12 adults who underwent treatment between 22 and 25 February. According to data compiled by Ecdc, eight of them were treated in the same Turkish clinic. In some cases their symptoms are mild, in others they are severe and require intensive care.
In the Austrian case, a woman who received an injection on February 22 was affected. In Switzerland, also a woman who underwent treatment on the same day 22. Both, in the same clinic as the cases reported in Germany.
lying batches
Last August, the World Health Organization (WHO) was concerned after the detection of five batches of botulinum toxin intragastric injection in five countries: Jordan, Kuwait, the United Kingdom, Poland and Turkey, in the country where it is registered. branch
European case monitoring authorities have warned EU countries to be vigilant and avoid finding new patients in the coming days. “New cases may occur, especially for those traveling to Turkey for medical treatment including the intragastric injection of botulinum toxin,” the EDC noted on March 10.
The agency recommends that those who have traveled to Turkey for treatment with this injection and experience symptoms of botulism (weakness and respiratory problems) immediately go to a hospital for medical treatment.
Botulism is poisoning caused by botulinum toxin, a neurotoxin produced by the bacterium ‘Clostridium botulinum’. It is an unusual disease, but it is considered serious and can be fatal.
Poisoning is usually caused by eating poorly preserved food contaminated with potent neurotoxins. Although the infection usually originates from the consumption of food, botulism can also be caused by infection of open wounds or as a side effect of a deliberate toxin used in the treatment of neuromuscular diseases or in asthma.
