A serious health alert is out for parents in Galveston County after an infant has been diagnosed with botulism, which health officials believe might be linked to a contaminated batch of infant formula. The four-month-old baby is currently on a ventilator, receiving treatment at the Texas Children's Hospital, in a case that emerges as part of a broader investigation by federal and state health officials into a multistate outbreak, as reported by KHOU.
In a statement obtained by KHOU, Galveston County Health District (GCHD) clarified that the baby was hospitalized after showing symptoms consistent with the disease, which include constipation, difficulty feeding, and loss of head control. With 31 reported cases across 15 states, the Galveston incident adds to what is now a considerable number of infants affected, all of whom were hospitalized. The outbreak has been connected to ByHeart Inc.'s Whole Nutrition Infant Formula.
This information comes alongside a GCHD collaboration with the Texas Department of State Health Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in the investigation. As reported by FOX26 Houston, ByHeart Inc. has issued a recall for all its Whole Nutrition Infant Formula products, covering all lot numbers, sizes, and single-serve packets due to the ongoing investigation.
Parents are being urged to cease using ByHeart formula, record the product details like lot number and best-by date, and store any leftover products labeled as "Do Not Use." The GCHD recommended disposing of any unused formula after a month if no symptoms showed up, and cleaning any items or surfaces that might have come into contact with it. Immediate medical attention should be sought if symptoms such as poor feeding, loss of head control, difficulty swallowing, or decreased facial expression are observed in children who consumed ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula, as per KHOU.
