A suspected outbreak of a rare and extremely dangerous food poisoning in Moscow has sent more than 120 people seeking medical attention and at least 30 people in intensive care, health officials said Monday.
The patients were hospitalized with suspected food poisoning botulisma life-threatening condition that affects the nervous system and can cause respiratory failure and paralysis.
Russian authorities said the toxic outbreak came from salads distributed by a popular online delivery service, which temporarily suspended operations on Sunday amid a criminal investigation.
“A total of 121 people sought medical help,” state news agencies quoted Anastasia Rakova, Moscow's deputy mayor, as saying on Monday.
“Currently, 55 people are in a serious condition, including 30 in intensive care,” she added.
The city's consumer and health watchdog, Rospotrebnadzor, said on Saturday it was conducting an “epidemiological investigation into suspected cases of botulism.”
The Moscow prosecutor's office said it had launched a criminal investigation into violations of consumer safety standards.
Vice Mayor Rakova said there was “no threat to the lives” of those hospitalized thanks to timely medical intervention.
The food delivery company involved in the outbreak, Kuchnia Na Rayone (“local kitchen”), said it had identified a “potential risk incident” with a salad using canned beans and had suspended orders.
What is botulism?
Botulism is an extremely rare condition, usually caused by improperly processed foods and associated with canned and preserved goods.
According to the World Health Organisationfoodborne botulism is a “serious, potentially fatal disease.” It's not between people.
According to the WHO, early symptoms include fatigue, dizziness, blurred vision, dry mouth and difficulty swallowing and speaking.
“The incidence of botulism is low, but the mortality rate is high if prompt diagnosis is not made and appropriate, immediate treatment is not provided,” the WHO says.
Last year, one woman died and eight other people, including a University of Colorado to graduate – were in intensive care after an outbreak of botulism linked to a wine bar in France.
According to the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control, there were 82 confirmed cases of botulism in the European Economic Area (EEA) in 2021, the last year of available data.
