Botulism is a rare but serious form of food poisoning. The symptoms include paralysis of the respiratory muscles.
Botulism is a rare but serious form of food poisoning, which is caused by the microorganism Clostridium botulinum. The organism mainly occurs in a ‘dormant’ state, as a spore. In an oxygen- and acid-poor environment, for example poorly canned food, the spore grows in the form of bacteria. When the bacteria form a large colony, they produce a potent toxin.
The toxin enters the body by eating contaminated food, but in biological warfare the poison can be inhaled. Once the toxin has passed through the stomach into the intestines, the toxin is absorbed into the bloodstream.
The poison leaves the circulatory system where a nerve is connected to a muscle. The botulism-causing poison binds to the nerve endings. This blocks the normal signal transmission for muscle contraction, and the muscles become paralyzed.
Symptoms include paralysis of the facial, swallowing, and respiratory muscles. These symptoms develop within 1 to 3 days. Without treatment, symptoms can progress to a point where the respiratory system stops working, resulting in death. Botulism is not contagious. See your doctor immediately if you suspect botulism.