Number of Irish people affected by Bordeaux botulism outbreak, HSE says
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A number of Irish people have been affected by a botulism outbreak in the French city of Bordeaux, the HSE has confirmed.
The French health ministry issued an alert around the condition after 10 cases were identified linked to the city earlier this week.
Sadly, one death has been associated with the outbreak and a total of 12 cases were identified up to Wednesday.
The outbreak centred on home-preserved canned sardines served at the Tchin Tchin Wine Bar as part of tapas food presentations.
The city hosted Ireland's first game of the Rugby World Cup on Saturday.
On Wednesday afternoon, the reported that at least one Irish person was being treated for a suspected case of Botulism in an intensive care unit in a Spanish hospital.
In a statement on Wednesday evening, the HSE confirmed that a small number of Irish citizens have been affected by the outbreak and that they are "receiving appropriate care in France."
A HSE spokesperson advised anyone who ate sardines at the bar between Monday, September 4 and Sunday, September 10, and who feels unwell, to "seek urgent medical care at an Emergency Department."
“It is important to emphasise that this advice only applies to those who ate sardines at the premises during the time specified," said HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) director Dr Greg Martin.
"There are no other circumstances in which a person can be affected by this incident."
Dr Martin said the HPSC was alerted of this outbreak on Tuesday by French authorities via mechanisms for exchange of information on health threats.