California Botulism Outbreak: CDC Details 2024 Nopales Salad Poisoning That Hospitalized Eight

A recent report from the CDC has shed light on a significant foodborne botulism outbreak in California from June 2024, which led to the hospitalization of eight individuals. The outbreak was traced to a homemade salad containing uncooked nopales, or prickly pear cactus pads, served at two family events in Fresno County.

Investigations by the CDC, Fresno County Department of Public Health, and California Department of Public Health revealed that the salad was contaminated with Clostridium botulinum, a deadly neurotoxin. The contaminated nopales had been home-preserved in reused glass jars and stored unrefrigerated in 100-degree Fahrenheit heat, creating an ideal environment for the toxin’s growth.

Symptoms, including dizziness, blurry vision, difficulty swallowing, and muscle paralysis, began appearing hours after consumption. Ten attendees sought treatment, with eight ultimately diagnosed with botulism. All patients survived, but some required intensive care and mechanical ventilation, with hospital stays lasting up to 42 days. This incident marks one of California’s largest documented foodborne botulism outbreaks, prompting health officials to reiterate the critical importance of proper food preservation and storage techniques.

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