NEWS

Botulism victim was 54-year-old woman

Jeff Barron

Reporter

LANCASTER – Fairfield Medical Center said the person who died from suspected botulism after eating at a Sunday lunch at Cross Pointe Free Will Baptist Church was a 54-year-old woman.

A man carries a box of food from the Cross Pointe Free Will Baptist Church Family Life Center to a Fairfield County Health Department truck Wednesday, April 22, 2015, in Lancaster. One person is dead and more than a dozen people are in area hospitals after a suspected outbreak of botulism that officials believe is tied to a lunch Sunday at the church.

FMC spokeswoman Donna Stalter said the hospital is not yet ready to release her name.

The Ohio Department of Health says there are now 18 suspected cases of botulism from the church picnic and that the death toll remains at one. That is down from the 24 sickened people officials announced earlier in the day.

ODH spokeswoman Cassie Bala said there are no confirmed cases of botulism and that all the cases are suspected.

"We're pretty sure it's botulism," FMC's Dr. Andrew Murry said. "But until all the testing comes back, it's presumed botulism."

Bala said another 21 people who were at the lunch have come forward and are under observation. However, they are not exhibiting any symptoms consistent with botulism and are not hospitalized.

A Fairfield County Health Department truck sits in the parking lot outside the Cross Pointe Free Will Baptist Church Family Life Center Wednesday, April 22, 2015, in Lancaster. One person is dead and more than a dozen people are in area hospitals after a suspected outbreak of botulism that officials believe is tied to a lunch Sunday at the church.

ODH spokesman Russ Kennedy said all area hospitals that are treating patients have received doses of the antitoxin needed to treat the victims and reduce their recovery time. Murry said even if the deceased woman had been treated with the antitoxin, which is given intravenously, it probably would not have worked because she was so critically ill.

The Fairfield County Department of Health is trying to find the source of the outbreak.

"We've been interviewing patients and family members who were at the event," spokeswoman Jennifer Valentine said. "We're trying to narrow down the sources of the food and send samples our for testing. There are about 20 things on the list we're looking at."

She said it's hard to say how long the investigation may take.

One person is dead and more than a dozen people are in area hospitals after a suspected outbreak of botulism that officials believe is tied to a lunch Sunday at Cross Pointe Free Will Baptist Church in Lancaster.

On Tuesday, Murry said more deaths are possible and did not back off from that statement Wednesday.

"These people are really ill, and the care is supportive," he said. "And any time somebody has to be on a ventilator for that long a period of time, it's possible they could do badly."

Even so, Murry said botulism deaths are rare, taking place in only 3 percent to 5 percent of botulism cases.

"And with an outbreak this large, we're right on track for that," he said.

Murry called the incident an outbreak, but said it is an isolated one.

"Botulism is not contagious," he said. "Unless you ate the food at the potluck meeting, you are not in danger."

There were about 50 to 60 people at the picnic. Pastor Bill Pitts on Tuesday said the lunch was like any other at the church.

"Everyone is trying to find the common thread," he said. "My heart is crying, and I pray for the people and their families."

Anyone who was at the lunch and has questions should call the FMC emergency hotline at 740-687-8053.

jbarron@lancastereaglegazette.com

740-681-4340

Twitter: @JeffDBarron