Health officials issue urgent warning after 23-year-old woman is ‘left paralyzed after eating soup’

An urgent warning has been issued by health officials after deadly bacteria allegedly found in a soup reportedly left a woman paralyzed.

Claudia de Albuquerque Celada, a 23-year-old exchange worker, is currently hospitalized and reliant on a ventilator after contracting botulism, a rare and serious foodborne illness that affects the nervous system, as reported by the Daily Mail.

Local health investigators traced the source of the infection back to a pre-packaged soup purchased by Celada from a major retailer while she was working in Aspen in February.

It’s believed that Celada became sick after eating soup. Credit: haoliang/Getty

Although tests on samples of the soup from the same store returned negative for botulism, officials suspect mishandling during storage or reheating may have led to contamination.

According to Pitkin County Health Department spokespersons, the incident serves as a reminder for individuals to review and improve their food handling practices.

Officials emphasize the importance of refrigerating perishable items at temperatures below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, ensuring thorough heating of food, and promptly refrigerating leftovers.

Botulism bacteria, commonly found in soil and ocean floors, can contaminate foods like fruits, vegetables, and seafood.

Under certain conditions such as warm, oxygen-deprived environments, these bacteria can produce toxins that attack the nervous system, leading to paralysis and other severe symptoms.

Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates only about 25 cases of foodborne botulism occur annually in the United States, the consequences can be grave.

Celada fell ill approximately 15 days after consuming the contaminated soup, experiencing symptoms including dizziness, double vision, and difficulty breathing. Within a day, she was completely paralyzed.

While the exact cause of contamination remains unclear, authorities suspect a combination of improper refrigeration and reheating practices.

Celada’s family has shared on social media that her hospitalization has lasted around 50 days, with recovery expected to take six months to a year.

Efforts are underway to transport Celada back to her hometown of Sao Paolo, Brazil, where her family believes she will receive better support during her recovery journey.

Meanwhile, health officials continue to stress the importance of vigilant food-handling practices to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The family has set up a fundraising page to help with the growing medical bills. Credit: Vakinha

The family has since set up a fundraising page via Vakinha to pay for Claudia’s ever-growing medical bills.

So far, they have raised only 225.149,91 Brazilian Real (approximately US $43).