The botulism epidemic which broke out in Bordeaux is growing. From eight cases known on Tuesday, the situation evolved to twelve this Wednesday, including a fatal case in the Paris region. It would be a 32-year-old woman who had frequented the Bordeaux restaurant, the Tchin Tchin Wine Bar, where the epidemic started. 20 minutes make the point.
How many patients are they treated?
This epidemic now affects “twelve cases”, revealed this Wednesday to 20 minutes Benjamin Clouzeau, resuscitation doctor and head of the department of intensive care medicine (MIR) at Bordeaux University Hospital. “Eight patients were treated at the Bordeaux University Hospital, and seven of these patients are in intensive care, including five intubated,” explains the doctor. Which means one additional patient intubated compared to Tuesday, “which shows the dynamic side of the disease. »
For the other cases, “we have identified a German patient who returned to his country very early, and whose health status seems favorable,” continues Dr. Benjamin Clouzeau. A case in Barcelona was reported overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday. He was treated with an early clinical picture, and benefited from anti-toxin therapy, and he too seems to be progressing favorably. And, unfortunately, there are these two cases in Ile-de-France, they are a couple who stayed in the Bordeaux region, and whose 32-year-old wife died, while the husband is symptomatic . »Most of the people are of foreign nationalities (American, Canadian, German), specifies the ARS.
Where does this epidemic come from?
All these patients frequented, over the last week, the same bar in Bordeaux, the Tchin Tchin Wine Bar. The suspected foods at this stage are canned sardines made at home by the restaurant owner. All canned goods present on site were recorded while awaiting analysis results, specifies the ARS. The analyzes will be carried out by the Pasteur Institute to determine which toxin is involved.
Should we expect new hospitalizations?
“The situation is still evolving,” agrees Benjamin Clouzeau, “the last meal taken in this restaurant before stopping the chain of contamination was Sunday evening. » The incubation time of the disease can be several days, “we can still expect to have new cases. » But the resuscitator insists above all on the “dynamic” nature of the disease. “We have two patients who were transferred from care to intensive care, one of whom was placed on respiratory assistance,” insists Benjamin Clouzeau. Assistance that could last several weeks. “And a 50% intubation rate makes it a particularly aggressive strain. » Furthermore, “there is the risk that diagnoses will not be made, which is why it is important that the message circulates, and that symptomatic patients [douleurs abdominales, nausées, vomissements et diarrhée, puis vision floue, sécheresse de la bouche accompagnée d’un défaut de déglutition voire d’élocution] can be detected, to benefit from treatment as quickly as possible and avoid dramatic developments. »