Question

PART III Case Information: Additional information was obtained- following announcements to the medical community and through mass media, 14 additional suspect cases of botulism were reported. Only two of these cases met the case definition of the study. One was a 68-year-old woman in the community (not a plant worker) who died at home within 24 hours of becoming ill. The second was her 6-year-old grandson, who was hospitalized and required mechanical ventilation. Serum specimens from 7 cases and stool samples from 2 cases, all from the plant, were negative for botulism toxin. These were collected 3 weeks after exposure. Laboratory examination of preserved foods remaining in the factory cafeteria showed that 1 of 4 unopened jars of unsalted peanuts produced by Company B on September 10 was positive for type A botulism toxin. Question 3: What control/preventive measures could you take to protect the health of the public? (6 points)

Answer 1

The food borne botulism infection can take an incubation time of about few hours to 8 days.It has to be treated at the earliest because delay in the treatment can cause progressively cause paralysis of the muscles in the respiratory tract leading to respiratory failure and death

The following measures can be taken to protect the public are

• Water treatment to disinfect the growth of microorganisms
• Health educating public to avoid using canned or tinned food if spoiled even in a very small quantity in the home
• Boiling can kill the toxin if done for 10 minutes but to kill the spores it takes a temperature of 248°F
• Always cooks the food preserved in the refrigerator before use
• Food safety inspection in the cafeteria and at the factory where it is manufactured
• Encourage public to prepare good in a hygienic way by handwashing before and after preparing the food.