Botulism

Every year, 110 people in the United States fall ill with botulism. Botulism is a rare but life-threatening disease that affects people who have been infected by the Clostridium botulinum bacteria. This bacterium typically resides in soil, so it most commonly enters the human body through wounds or through ingestion after it has contaminated food products.

Botulism is a paralytic disease that inhibits one’s ability to control and use his or her muscles effectively. When botulism progresses and affects the breathing muscles, it can be fatal.

Causes of Botulism

There exist three types of botulism, which are classified based on how the victim contracted the disease:

• Food-borne Botulism: This is the most common form of botulism, which infects a victim through the ingestion of contaminated food products. Typically, botulism-causing bacteria arise in home-canned goods, although they have contaminated mass-distributed garlic and potatoes, as well.
• Wound Botulism: This form of botulism arises when a wound is infected with botulism bacteria. This can occur when injecting illicit drugs or if the cut comes into contact with botulism-containing soil.
• Infant Botulism: Infants can contract botulism if they ingest botulism-causing bacteria. This can happen if babies are given red contaminated honey or contaminated corn syrup.

Though botulism is not contagious, any cases of food-borne botulism must be immediately reported. The contaminated food products are still on the market and have the potential to harm other people who eat them.

Contact Us

If you have contracted botulism as the result of another party’s negligence, then you may have the right to claim compensation. The Las Vegas personal injury lawyers of William Palmer & Associates, P.C. have the experience necessary to help you collect damages. Contact us today at 702-888-2222 to speak with an attorney about your situation.