2013 CSTE Botulism surveillance summary

A total of 153 laboratory-confirmed cases of botulism were reported to CDC in 2013. Foodborne botulism accounted for 2 (1%), infant botulism for 135 (88%), wound botulism for 14 (9%), and botulism of unknown or other etiology for 2 (1%) cases (Table 1).The 2 cases of laboratory-confirmed foodborne botulism were reported from two states (Table 2). Toxin type A accounted for 1 and toxin type E for 1. The patients were aged 57 and 87 years; both were women. There were no outbreaks (events with two or more cases) among laboratory-confirmed cases. One case was associated with home-canned peaches or pears; the other was associated with fish oil/blubber. One death was reported (Table 3).There were 3 outbreaks of probable cases of foodborne botulism (clinically compatible illness with an epidemiologic link that is not laboratory-confirmed). One may have been associated with homemade turshi, a pickled vegetable dish (associated with 4 probable cases), one with fermented fish heads (2 cases), and one with seal oil/blubber (2 cases). All eight patients survived.Called also: 2013 CSTE Botulism surveillance summary.Recommended citation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Botulism Annual Summary, 2013. Atlanta, Georgia: US Department of Health and Human Services, CDC, 2015.CS258123-