Brazilian woman in Colorado paralyzed from deadly bacteria, common pantry item suspected
A 23-year-old woman in Colorado is fighting for her life after she allegedly ate something that is found in most American pantries.
The woman, originally from Brazil, was on an exchange program in Aspen when she was overcome by a sudden onset of dizziness, double vision, and difficulty breathing.
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Within 24 hours of her first symptoms, Claudia de Albuquerque Celada lost all mobility, became paralyzed, and was placed on a ventilator.
Brazil’s Claudia de Albuquerque Celada was spending her winter in Aspen, Colorado on a work exchange program, “doing the [job] she always dreamed of working.”
But, in mid-February, things became a nightmare for the previously healthy 23-year-old woman, who is also an avid snowboarder.
It took two weeks for doctors to discover the paralysis was due to botulism.
“After countless exams, tests, hospital transfer, spinal punctures and plasma transfusion, on [March 1] we had the diagnosis: botulism. It’s an extremely rare disease that destroys nerves and muscle connections, taking several months to recover.”
Botulism, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “is a rare but serious illness caused by a toxin that attacks the body’s nerves and causes difficulty breathing, muscle paralysis, and even death.”
The CDC also notes that “…improperly home-canned, preserved or fermented foods can provide the right conditions for spores to grow and make botulinum toxin.” The spores act like protective coatings for the bacteria, helping it survive in even in extreme conditions.
