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Health alert in Italy, death toll from broccoli poisoning in Calabria and Sardinia rises to three (What is botulism and how does it appear)

2025-08-10 13:23:02Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
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Health authorities in Italy have been put on high alert after a serious outbreak of botulism, which has caused three deaths and affected dozens of people in two regions of the country.

The epicenter of the outbreak is in Diamante, a tourist town on the Tyrrhenian Sea coast in Calabria, where two people have died and over 12 others are being treated at the Cosenza Hospital – two of them in critical condition.

The third case was recorded in Sardinia, where a 38-year-old woman was admitted to the Brotzu hospital in critical condition after consuming guacamole at a festival in Montserrat, near Cagliari. She was later transferred to the Businco hospital, where she sadly passed away.

The Italian Ministry of Health immediately activated emergency protocols in both regions for the rapid administration of antitoxins to patients. Maria Rosaria Campitiello, head of the Department for Prevention and Emergencies, stressed that the coordinated response was possible thanks to the National Strategic Stock of Antidotes network and inter-institutional cooperation.

The prosecutor's office has opened a criminal investigation into the incident in Calabria, focusing on the health response and legal responsibilities. Three people have been arrested and face charges of: manslaughter, bodily harm due to negligence,
distribution of food harmful to public health

Those arrested include a street vendor suspected of selling contaminated food from his truck, as well as legal representatives of two companies that supplied the raw materials. Doctors are also being investigated for delays in treatment.

Source of contamination and testing
According to preliminary investigations, the victims had consumed sausage and broccoli sandwiches from the same street vendor. His vehicle, now seized, had been exposed to high temperatures during the day, which is suspected to have favored the development of toxins in the food. Laboratory analyses are being carried out by the Cosenza Health Department and police authorities.

Particular attention is also being paid to the private clinic of Belvedere Marittimo, where the two victims in Calabria were admitted. According to the data, they did not receive the necessary treatment and were directed to other hospitals. The delay in recognizing the symptoms of botulism is believed to have contributed to the fatal deterioration of their condition.

One of the victims is Luigi di Sarno, 52, a tourist from Cercola, Naples. After consuming the contaminated food, he developed symptoms and visited the aforementioned clinic. With no signs of improvement, he set off for Campania, but died en route, despite the intervention of the emergency helicopter.

The second victim is a 45-year-old woman from Praia a Mare, who had also consumed food from the same source.

What is botulism?
Botulism is a rare but very serious paralyzing disease caused by a neurotoxin produced by the bacteria Clostridium botulinum, and less commonly by C. butyricum or C. baratii.

There are 6 clinical forms of botulism:

Foodborne botulism

Infant botulism

Adult enteric toxemia

Wound botulism

Iatrogenic botulism

Inhalation botulism

How does foodborne botulism occur?

This form occurs when the toxin is produced in improperly stored food and then consumed without sufficient heat treatment. Foods with little salt, little acidity, canned or lightly pasteurized are most at risk — for example, meat products, sauces, smoked fish, etc.

The toxin is destroyed by boiling (85°C for at least 5 minutes), but the spores require higher temperatures (120°C for 10 minutes or more).

Main symptoms
Symptoms usually appear 12–36 hours after consumption and include:

General weaknesses

Blurred vision

Dry mouth

Difficulty swallowing and speaking

Dizziness

It can be followed by progressive muscle paralysis, which in severe cases also affects the respiratory muscles, causing fatal respiratory arrest if not treated in time. Diagnosis is based on the detection of the toxin in serum, feces, or suspected food, or on the identification of the bacterium in culture.

The treatment consists of:

Administering antitoxin, the sooner the better

Mechanical ventilation, in cases of paralysis of the respiratory muscles

Cleaning the digestive tract, in case of consuming contaminated food

This recent outbreak of botulism in Italy reminds us of the need for strict monitoring of food safety standards, especially in street trading and in climates with high temperatures.


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