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       lite.cnn.com - on gopher - inofficial
       
       
       ARTICLE VIEW: 
       
       Counterfeit or mishandled Botox injections linked to harmful reactions
       in nine states
       
       By John Bonifield, CNN
       
       Updated: 
       
       9:30 PM EDT, Mon April 15, 2024
       
       Source: CNN
       
       Nineteen people from nine states have reported harmful reactions after
       receiving cosmetic injections — commonly known as Botox — that were
       administered from unlicensed or untrained individuals or in non-medical
       settings, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Monday.
       Some people received injections of counterfeit or mishandled product.
       
       Nine people were hospitalized and four were treated with botulism
       antitoxin because of concerns that the botulinum toxin could have
       spread beyond the injection site, the agency said.
       
       The reactions to the products occurred in Colorado, Florida, Illinois,
       Kentucky, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Tennessee and Washington.
       
       The CDC says all 19 people identify as female and range in age from 25
       to 59 years old. All but one reported receiving the injection for
       cosmetic purposes.
       
       The agency, along with several state and local health departments, and
       the US Food and Drug Administration are investigating the reports.
       
       The CDC advises asking providers and settings, such as clinics or spas,
       if they are licensed and trained to give the injections. It also
       advises asking if the product is FDA approved and obtained from a
       reliable source. If in doubt, the agency advises not to get the
       injection.
       
       Botulism is a rare but serious illness caused by toxins released by
       bacteria that attack the nervous system. Symptoms can include blurry or
       double vision, droopy eyelids, difficulty breathing, fatigue, slurred
       speech or hoarse voice. Muscle paralysis may progress over hours to
       days if left untreated and can be fatal.
       
       The Clostridium botulinum bacteria is an ingredient in Botox and
       similar cosmetic substances, according to the Illinois Department of
       Public Health. The purified form of the botulinum toxin is approved by
       the FDA for use by licensed health-care providers as a cosmetic
       treatment, it said in a  published last week.
       
       CNN’s Deidre McPhillips contributed to this story.
       
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