In a follow-up on the botulism outbreak in Sacramento County, California state and local health officials report the source of their illnesses appears to be prepared food, particularly nacho cheese sauce, from the Valley Oak Food and Fuel gas station in Walnut Grove, based on the investigation and preliminary data.
The sale of prepared food at this location was halted on May 5, by Sacramento County Department of Environmental Management.
To date, five patients were hospitalized for foodborne botulism and an additional patient with suspected foodborne botulism is currently under investigation.
Botulism is a rare but serious paralytic illness caused by a nerve toxin that is produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. Symptoms can include double vision, blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, dry mouth, and muscle weakness.
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