OKANOGAN - Okanogan County Public Health warns people about food-borne botulism associated with home-canned asparagus.
     Botulism is a rare but serious paralytic illness caused by a nerve toxin produced by Clostridium botulinum. Food-borne botulism is caused by eating foods that contain the botulism toxin.
     It can be especially dangerous since many people can be poisoned by eating contaminated food. An average of 145 cases of botulism are reported each year in the U.S. Of them, about 15 percent are food-borne.
     All forms of botulism can be fatal and are considered medical emergencies. The classic symptoms of botulism include double vision, blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, dry mouth and muscle weakness, the health district said.
     If untreated, the symptoms may progress to cause paralysis of the arms, legs, trunk and respiratory muscles.
     Food-borne botulism often has been from home-canned foods with low acid content, such as asparagus, green beans, beets and corn.
     Outbreaks also have been reported in chopped garlic in oil, chile peppers, tomatoes, carrot juice, improperly handled baked potatoes wrapped in aluminum foil and home-canned or fermented fish.
     The district recommends those who do home canning should follow strict hygienic procedures to reduce contamination of foods.
     In addition, oils infused with garlic or herbs should be refrigerated, and baked potatoes wrapped in foil should be kept hot until served, or refrigerated.
     Instructions on safe home canning can be obtained from county extension offices or from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
- Prepared by Omak Chronicle staff