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New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services Fact Sheet Division of Public Health Services

Clostridium. perfringens

What is C. perfringens? Why is there concern about C. perfringens are widely perfringens as a weapon? distributed in the environment and frequently The toxins can be purified into a concentrated occur in the intestines of humans and many form which could then be aerosolized and domestic and feral . The toxins are used to infect a large number of people. It produced by certain , , or other could also be placed in or water to make living organisms. Spores of the organism people ill and it would take a while to figure persist in , sediment, and areas subject to out the cause. human or fecal . What happens when someone gets How does C. perfringens make people sick from C. perfringens toxins? sick? Food : The symptoms of C. C. perfringens toxins can make a person ill if perfringens causing illness from food include they ingest enough. Perfringens food crampy stomach pain followed by diarrhea poisoning is the term used to describe the which may begin 6 to 24 hours after eating common caused by C. the contaminated food. Nausea is common, perfringens. A more serious but rare illness is but fever and vomiting usually are not also caused by ingesting food contaminated symptoms. The illness is usually over within with Type C strains. The latter illness is 24 hours, but less severe symptoms may known as necroticans or pig-bel persist in some individuals for 1 to 2 weeks. disease. Purified toxins (weapon): Release of purified may have multiple effects. The How can someone come into contact specific effects will depend on the strain of with C. perfringens toxins? bacteria used, the type of toxin purified, the toxins cannot be method of release, and the amount taken into spread from person to person and they do not the body. The toxins can produce: grow or increase in number in the body. They • Stomach effects: Loss of appetite, can be produced from bacteria found nausea, vomiting, and watery or everywhere in the environment. They are bloody diarrhea with crampy stomach most commonly associated with food pain. poisoning, which can happen when a person • Respiratory effects: Difficulty swallows a large amount of the bacteria, breathing, wheezing and coughing. which then multiply and produce toxin in the Mouth and throat pain with some intestine or when a person eats contaminated blood in the saliva and sputum may be food with the toxin already in it. possible.

29 Hazen Drive ‹ Concord, NH 03301 ‹ 603-271-4496 ‹ www.dhhs.nh.gov

effects: Burning pain, redness, even hundreds of people are affected. It is itching, rash, or blisters. probable that many outbreaks go unreported. • and nerve effects: One of the toxins produced (called epsilon toxin) What should someone do if they think damages the and nerves of they have come into contact with animals in laboratory tests. It can lead Clostridium perfringens toxin? to dizziness, difficulty with balance First, leave the area where the toxin was and coma. It is possible that these released and get to fresh air. Next remove effects may occur in humans. clothing that may have the toxin on it. Wash any skin that may have been affected with lots How is the illness in people of soap and water. If the eyes are burning or diagnosed? vision is blurred, rinse eyes with plain water Perfringens poisoning is diagnosed by its for 10 to 15 minutes. If contacts are worn, symptoms and the typical delayed onset of remove them with a clean hand and put them illness. Diagnosis is confirmed by detecting with the clothing. Discard contaminated the toxin in the feces of patients. items. Call the NH Department of Health and Human Services Disease Control Section at Does anyone ever die from C. 603-271-4496 or the NH Control perfringens toxins? Center at 1-800-222-1222. Most people who suffer from C. perfringens intoxication are uncomfortable, but not many of them die. People usually recover in 24 For specific concerns about Clostridium hours or less. It is unknown how deadly a perfringens, call the New Hampshire release of purified toxin would be. Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Infectious Disease Control at 603-271-4496 or 800-852-3345 What are most often associated x4496. For further information, refer to the with perfringens poisoning? Centers for Disease Control and In most instances, the actual cause of Prevention website at www.cdc.gov or the poisoning by C. perfringens is not New Hampshire Department of Health and maintaining appropriate food temperatures. Human Services website at Small numbers of the organisms are often www.dhhs.nh.gov . present after cooking and multiply to food poisoning levels during cool down and storage of prepared foods. , products, and gravy are the foods most frequently implicated.

How common is perfringens poisoning? Perfringens poisoning is one of the most commonly reported foodborne illnesses in the U.S. There were 1,162 cases in 1981, in 28 separate outbreaks. At least 10-20 outbreaks have been reported annually in the U.S. for the past two decades. Typically, dozens or

29 Hazen Drive ‹ Concord, NH 03301 ‹ 603-271-4496 ‹ www.dhhs.nh.gov