At least 19 people in nine states have fallen ill after receiving botulinum toxin injections — commonly known by the brand name Botox — from unlicensed individuals or outside of a health care setting, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The CDC said nine people were hospitalized and four others were treated with botulism antitoxin after receiving botulinum toxin injections. Some people received injections with counterfeit products or products with unverified sources, the agency said in an April 15 statement. The CDC said an investigation into the sources of these products is underway.
The cases were detected in Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Tennessee, and Washington. The CDC advised people to exercise caution when considering cosmetic treatments and encouraged those who have experienced health issues after receiving such treatments to seek medical assistance.
According to the CDC, those who receive botulinum toxin injections for cosmetic or medical purposes, such as migraine headaches, may face a higher risk of iatrogenic botulism if the dose they receive is too large or if they have underlying nerve or muscle conditions. The consumer advocacy group Public Citizen filed a petition with the FDA seeking stronger warnings about the risk of a potentially fatal muscle-paralyzing disease related to Botox and similar injections.
In a related incident, two cases involved people who received injections of Botox or a similar counterfeit product from a licensed nurse in LaSalle County who was performing work outside her authority, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) said. The Tennessee Department of Health also reported similar cases.
The CDC’s findings underscore the importance of receiving cosmetic treatments from licensed healthcare professionals in approved settings to avoid potential health risks associated with botulinum toxin injections.
