National Botulism Surveillance Summary, 2017

At a glance

In 2017, 182 laboratory-confirmed botulism cases were reported to CDC—141 (77%) infant, 19 (10%) foodborne, 19 (10%) wound, and three (1%) “other” classified as: two (1%) iatrogenic, and one (1%) suspected adult intestinal colonization (Table 1).

A group of anaerobic, spore-forming, Clostridium organisms. This artistic recreation was based upon scanning electron microscopic imagery.

Infant botulism

Infant botulism cases were reported from 26 states and the District of Columbia, with California reporting the most (n=48, 34%). Toxin types were A (n=52, 37%), B (n=88, 62%), and Ba (n=1, 1%). The median age of infants was four months (range: 0–12 months); 72 (51%) were girls. No deaths were reported

Foodborne botulism

Foodborne botulism cases were reported from California (n=15) and Alaska (n=4). Among the 15 toxin type A foodborne botulism cases in California, 10 were from an outbreak linked to nacho cheese at a convenience store,1 two were from an outbreak linked to an herbal deer antler tea,2 one was from a suspected soup with bulging lid but was not available testing, and two were not linked to a known food source. Among the four toxin type E foodborne botulism cases in Alaska, three were from an outbreak linked to seal blubber with seal oil, and one was linked to dried herring in seal oil (Table 2a). The median age of patients was 42 years (range: 14–85 years); 11 were men. Three deaths were reported.

Two probable foodborne botulism cases* were reported from Alaska. They occurred in one household among women 29 and 54 years old who ate fermented white fish. (Table 2b). No deaths were reported.

*Clinically compatible illness, not laboratory-confirmed, with an epidemiologic link to a food or drink suspected to be contaminated with botulinum toxin.

Wound botulism

Nineteen wound botulism cases were reported from four states—16 from California, and one each from Arizona, New Mexico, and Washington. Seventeen were among persons who inject drugs, one was linked to injuries from an all-terrain vehicle crash, and one was from an arm fracture contaminated with soil. Most were toxin type A (n=18); the presence of toxin was confirmed in one patient's blood but there was not enough blood to determine the toxin type. The median age of patients was 48 years (range: 14–71 years); 15 were men. No deaths were reported.

Eleven probable wound botulism cases were reported from six states. Ten were among persons who inject drugs and one case was in a child who had a wound. The median age of patients was 39 years (range: 10–63 years). Five patients were male; no deaths were reported.

Clinically compatible case with no suspected exposure to contaminated food and with a history in the 2 weeks before illness began of either a fresh wound or injection drug use

Other cases of botulism

California reported two iatrogenic cases—one was toxin type A, and one was toxin type B. No deaths were reported. California also reported one patient with toxin type A and suspected adult intestinal colonization who died.

Tables

Table 1. Summary of reported confirmed and probable botulism cases by transmission category—United States, 2017

Confirmed Cases
Transmission Category Cases Median Age
(range)
Deaths Sex,
male n (%) / 
female n (%)
Toxin Type,
n (%) type
Exposures,
n (%) type
Outbreaks*
Infant 141 4 (0–12) months 0 69 (49) / 72 (51) 52 (37)  A,
88 (62) B, 1 (1)  Ba
N/A 0
Foodborne 19 42 (14–85) years 3 11 (58) / 8 (42) 15 (79)  A, 4 (21)  E See Table 2a 3
Wound 19 48 (14–71) years 0 15 (70) / 4 (21) 18 (95) A, 1 (5)  A/B/E 17 (89) IDU§ 0
Other** 3 43 (31–80) years 1 1 (33) / 2 (67) 2 (67) A,
1 (33) B
N/A 0
Probable Cases
Transmission Category Cases Median Age
(range)
Deaths Sex,
male n (%) / 
female n (%)
Toxin Type,
n (%) type
Exposures,
n (%) type
Outbreaks*
Foodborne 2 42 (29–54) years 0 0 (0) / 2 (100) N/A See Table 2b 1
Wound 11 39 (10–63) years 0 5 (45) / 6 (55) N/A 10 (91) IDU§ 0

* Outbreak defined as two or more cases resulting from a common exposure.
Probable foodborne botulism is a clinically compatible case with an epidemiologic link (e.g., ingestion of a home-canned food within the previous 48 hours).
Confirmed presence of toxin, but toxin type was indeterminate.
§ IDU: injection drug use.
Probable wound botulism is a clinically compatible case with no suspected exposure to contaminated food and with a history in the 2 weeks before illness began of either a fresh contaminated wound or injection drug use.
** “Other” includes adult intestinal colonization, iatrogenic botulism, and unknown routes of transmission.

Table 2a. Foods linked to laboratory-confirmed botulism cases (n=19)—United States, 2017

Table 2a. Foods linked to laboratory-confirmed botulism cases
Month State Confirmed or Suspected Food Toxin Type Number of Cases
February California Unknown A 1
April California Herbal deer antler tea A 2
April-May California Nacho cheese* A 10
April California Soup with bulging lid A 1
August Alaska Dried herring in seal oil E 1
August Alaska Seal blubber with seal oil* E 3
September California Unknown A 1

* Foods followed by an asterisk were confirmed as the source by detection of toxin in food. In foods without an asterisk, toxin was not detected or food item was not available for testing; food vehicle was suspected based on clinical history, epidemiological evidence, or reported method of preparation or storage.
There were no suspected food items available to test as the trash had already been removed.
Potentially unsafe food maintenance practices were observed.

Table 2b. Foods linked to probable foodborne botulism cases (n=2)—United States, 2017

Table 2b. Foods linked to probable foodborne botulism cases
Month State Suspected Food Number of Cases
February Alaska Fermented white fish 2

Figures

Figure 1. Laboratory-Confirmed Botulism Cases by State or Territory and Transmission Category—United States, 2017

Infant Botulism Cases (n=141)
Laboratory-confirmed infant botulism cases in 2017
Wound Botulism Cases (n=19)
Laboratory-confirmed wound botulism cases in 2017
Foodborne botulism cases (n=19)
Laboratory-confirmed foodborne botulism cases in 2017
Other Botulism Cases (n=3)
Other laboratory-confirmed botulism cases in 2017

Data hosted at data.cdc.gov

Figure 2. Laboratory-confirmed botulism cases by state/territory and toxin type—United States, 2017

Botulism Toxin Type: A (n=87)
Laboratory-confirmed botulism cases in 2017 with toxin type A
Botulism Toxin Type: B (n=89)
Laboratory-confirmed botulism cases in 2017 with toxin type B
Botulism Toxin Type: Ba (n=1)
Laboratory-confirmed botulism cases in 2017 with toxin type Ba
Botulism Toxin Type: E (n=4)
Laboratory-confirmed botulism cases in 2017 with toxin type E

Data hosted at data.cdc.gov

Figure 3. Confirmed botulism cases by month of onset and transmission category—United States, 2007−2017

Confirmed botulism cases by month of onset and transmission category — United States, 2007−2017 for infants
Laboratory-confirmed infant botulism cases by month. Cases in 2017 compared with cases in 2007–2016.
Confirmed botulism cases by month of onset and transmission category — United States, 2007−2017 for wounds
Laboratory-confirmed wound botulism cases by month. Cases in 2017 compared with cases in 2007–2016.
Confirmed botulism cases by month of onset and transmission category — United States, 2007−2017 for foodborne
Laboratory-confirmed foodborne botulism cases by month. Cases in 2017 compared with cases in 2007–2016.
Confirmed botulism cases by month of onset and transmission category — United States, 2007−2017 for other
Other laboratory-confirmed botulism cases by month. Cases in 2017 compared with cases in 2007–2016.

Data hosted at data.cdc.gov

  1. CDPH Testing Confirms Botulism Linked to Nacho Cheese Sauce Sold at Sacramento County Gas Station. 2017 [cited 2018 11/13]; Available from: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/OPA/Pages/NR17-047.aspx
  2. Kim M, Zahn M, Reporter R, Askar Z, Green N, Needham M, Rosen H, Kimura A, Terashita D. Outbreak of Foodborne Botulism Associated With Prepackaged Pouches of Liquid Herbal Tea. Open Forum Infect Dis. 2019 Feb;6(2):ofz014. DOI PubMed
  • McCarty CL, Angelo K, Beer KD, Cibulskas-White K, Quinn K, de Fijter S, Bokanyi R, St Germain E, Baransi K, Barlow K, et al. Large Outbreak of Botulism Associated with a Church Potluck Meal—Ohio, 2015. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2015 Jul 31;64(29):802–3. PubMed
  • McCrickard L, Marlow M, Self JL, Watkins LF, Chatham-Stephens K, Anderson J, Hand S, Taylor K, Hanson J, Patrick K, et al. Notes from the Field: Botulism Outbreak from Drinking Prison-Made Illicit Alcohol in a Federal Correctional Facility – Mississippi, June 2016. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2017 Jan 6;65(52):1491–2. PubMed