Rhode Island Baby Caught Botulism: RIDOH

A Rhode Island baby caught botulism last month, the department of health revealed.

The child was hospitalized after "presenting with symptoms" Oct. 24, the Rhode Island Department of Health said in a media release, and the infant botulism diagnosis was confirmed Nov. 7.

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"This child had consumed ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula, a milk-based powder formula with iron for children 0 to 12 months," the release said. "This product was purchased online."

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The Rhode Island Department of Health is now supporting an investigation conducted by the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention "into a multi-state cluster of infant botulism cases where it was reported that several of the infants consumed ByHeart powdered infant formula," the release said.

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Babies catch infant botulism if they eat something containing spores from the bacteria Clostridium botulinum, according to the release.

"ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula makes up an estimated less than 1% of all infant formula sold in the United States," the release said. "This outbreak does not create shortage concerns of infant formula for parents and caregivers."

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The department of health warned that infant botulism is a "serious condition that can come on slowly and get gradually worse over time."

"If identified, it is very treatable with an antitoxin called botulism immune globulin," the release said. "The sooner that treatment starts, the better. Most children recover fully from infant botulism."

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