An outbreak of food poisoning linked to sardines at a Bordeaux restaurant resulted in one person dying and 8 being hospitalized

CNN
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One person died and eight people were hospitalized after the outbreak Botulism In one of the restaurants in the French city BordeauxAccording to a statement issued by the French Public Health Authority on Wednesday.

Two less serious cases have also been identified, according to local health authorities.

It is believed that diners ate sardines in homemade oil preserves, which were contaminated with food poisoning bacteria. They all had dinner at the Tchin Tchin wine bar from September 4 to 10, the French public health authority said.

According to CNN affiliate BFMTV, the client who died was a woman in her 30s who was visiting Bordeaux with her partner, who is still in intensive care.

Food poisoning is a toxic substance that paralyzes the nerves, and is considered one of the most powerful and deadly substances in the world.

It is produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum and sometimes by Clostridium butyricum and Clostridium baratii strains. Rod-shaped bacteria are commonly found in soil and sediments from lakes, rivers, and oceans.

The bacteria thrive in low-oxygen conditions, such as canned foods, deep wounds, and the intestinal tract, but when threatened they form a protective spores with a tough coating that allows the bacteria to survive for years.

Thierry Touzet, deputy director of Gironde’s civil protection authority, told reporters on Wednesday that the restaurant would be closed “for the next few days, if not weeks” after discussions with the owner to facilitate cleaning and disinfection of the building.

“He thought about closing for a longer period to carry out all these operations, as well as to train in food preservation techniques,” Touzet said.

“The facility was generally well maintained, but there was a real problem with the food preservation process,” he said, adding that the owner had been asked to stop producing preserved fish.

He added that there were nine jars of sardines served during the week in which the infections were identified, and about 25 people may have eaten the fish.

The French Public Health Agency warned anyone who visited the restaurant and showed any symptoms of food poisoning to seek medical help immediately. These symptoms can include abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, blurred or double vision, and dry mouth accompanied by difficulty swallowing or even speaking.

Treatment of severe food poisoning can include assisted breathing in intensive care. However, rapid treatment with antivenom after symptoms appear can shorten hospitalization periods.

Food poisoning can be fatal in 5-10% of cases, according to the French Public Health Organization.

Bordeaux, located in southwest France, is famous for its history and wine. The city is popular with tourists and also hosts the ongoing Rugby World Cup matches.

CNN has reached out to the Bordeaux prosecutor and Tchin Tchin wine bar for comment.