First Case of Deadly Disease Reported in the Gem State

Having a child is supposed to be one of the most exciting moments of your life. Welcoming a new addition to your family, giving life to a human being, hearing the first cry, and holding something you made is a special moment that nothing else comes close to matching. While it is exciting to have a child, it can also be terrifying. Every time you hear a cough, you assume they are choking; every time they are silent, you assume they have stopped breathing, and every fall or cry makes your heart race. The worst, though, is when your child gets sick. There is a known case of a potentially deadly disease in Idaho, and the cause has been revealed as well.

Potentially Deadly Disease Known to Be in Idaho

There are certain things that children are not intended to have. Certain types of foods, toys, and items can harm them, but when one of the things that is supposed to help them harms them, it can be devastating. Recently, a certain formula was recalled, and due to one baby consuming it in Idaho, the child is now fighting for their life. ByHeart Whole Nutrition infant formula was recalled in early November, after being linked to a nasty disease called botulism. One baby in Ada County has tested positive for botulism after consuming the formula. The good news is that the formula has been removed from shelves, but that doesn't help this child, who is in the hospital fighting for their life. If you have any in your home, it would be wise to throw them out instantly. 

What is Botulism?

You may not be familiar with botulism, as it isn't a common disease. It is rare but aggressive and can spread quickly. It is a serious illness caused by a neurotoxin produced by the Clostridium botulinum bacterium. So what are the symptoms, and is it deadly? The symptoms to keep an eye out for are muscle weakness, constipation, loss of head control, and paralysis. In terms of being fatal, it typically is not, but if it affects the muscles needed for breathing, it could become fatal. The main ways to get botulism are by consuming contaminated food, from an infected wound, or an infant ingesting spores that grow in its intestines. 

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With only one case and the product being removed from shelves, hope is that there will be no other cases in Idaho going forward. As for the child, we all hope for a good recovery and that the child will have no long-lasting effects. For more on the illness, the recall, or the baby that is ill, click the links above.