Question

From July through August of 2007, eight cases of botulism were reported in Indiana, Texas, and Ohio. The CDC investigated

and found that all eight people had eaten hot dog chili sauce made by the Castleberry Food Company. The FDA initially
recalled all cans of hot dog chili sauce that were marked with certain "best if used by" dates. However, further inspection of
the Castleberry plant revealed deficiencies in their canning methods. The FDA then expanded the recall to include all chili sauce,
regardless of date, along with other canned items including some brands of dog food. The FDA, USDA, and state health agencies
visited retail stores across the country to ensure that affected items were removed from store shelves. The FDA found that 1,303
stores out of 12,989 stores still had recalled items on the shelves, and proceeded to remove the items. The FDA warned consumers
to avoid opening recalled cans, and to carefully dispose of them by double-wrapping the cans in plastic bags, and taping them
shut before throwing them out.
What symptoms did the victims likely experience?

Answer 1

The symptoms of botulism include double vision, difficulty speaking and swallowing, muscle weakness, and difficulty breathing.

Step-by-step explanation:

The symptoms that the victims likely experienced as a result of botulism include:

Double vision: The neurotoxin produced by Clostridium botulinum can affect the nerves that control eye movements, causing double vision.

Difficulty speaking and swallowing: Botulinum toxin can cause muscle weakness, including in the muscles responsible for speaking and swallowing.

Muscle weakness: The toxin can lead to overall muscle weakness and difficulty in performing tasks that require muscle strength.

Difficulty breathing: In severe cases, botulism can cause paralysis of the muscles involved in breathing, resulting in difficulty breathing and potentially respiratory failure.

These symptoms typically occur within 12 to 72 hours after consuming contaminated food.