Botulism outbreak tied to sardines served in Bordeaux leaves 1 person dead and several hospitalized

By ALEX TURNBULL
Associated Press

PARIS (AP) — Regional health officials in France say a 32-year-old woman is dead and a dozen people have been hospitalized after an apparent botulism outbreak. Health authorities have linked it to homemade sardine preserves served by a Bordeaux wine bar between Sept. 4 and Sept. 10. Local authorities were working Thursday to track down others who ate the suspect sardines. The woman who died was from Paris. Local officials say those sickened included visitors from the U.S., Ireland, Canada, Germany and Spain. Foodborne botulism is an illness from eating contaminated products and can cause paralysis, breathing difficulty and sometimes death.