About 150 people in Russia have sought medical assistance with symptoms of botulism over the past few days, authorities said.
In Moscow, 121 sought medical help with suspected botulism, 55 of those affected are in serious condition, 30 of them in intensive care.
Fourteen people sought medical help for suspected botulism in Nizhny Novgorod. Nine of them were in serious condition, according to the regional health ministry.
A total of 14 people were hospitalized with botulism symptoms in Kazan.
Health officials appear to have linked at least some of the cases in Moscow to two brands of ready-made salads. Russia’s public health watchdog, Rospotrebnadzor, halted the sale of the salads pending investigation, after the first cases of poisoning have been reported.
A popular food delivery service, Kukhnya Na Rayone had one of the salads on the menu. It suspended operations over the weekend, saying in an online statement that it no longer offered the salad, which had canned beans in it, and would inspect other food on offer as well.
The Kazan branch of Rospotrebnadzor, as well as the Nizhny Novgorod health ministry, said those hospitalized in the two cities ate the salad made by Kukhnya Na Rayone.
Symptoms and causes of botulism
Foodborne botulism is a rare illness caused by a toxin produced by a type of bacteria called Clostridium botulinum. Eating foods contaminated with the toxin can cause paralysis, breathing difficulties and sometimes death. Improperly canned, preserved or fermented foods are common sources.
Symptoms typical of botulism can include severe abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, blurred vision, a dry mouth, difficulty in swallowing or speaking, and neurological symptoms.
