title: Type A and type B botulism in the North: first reported cases due to toxin other than type E in Alaskan Inuit.
abstract: Botulism outbreaks shown to be due to type A and type B toxin occurred in Alaska, a region previously known for only type E botulism. The outbreak due to type A toxin involved three people, two of whom died. The outbreak due to type B toxin involved nine people, none of whom died. Both outbreaks were in Inuit villages, and native foods were incriminated. The occurrence of these outbreaks strongly suggests that Clostridium botulinum, types A and B are indigenous to Alaska. The outbreaks underscore the need for initial treatment of patients with antitoxin that is trivalent (ABE), even in Arctic regions.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000413:Alaska; D001906:Botulism / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003014:Clostridium botulinum / Q000145:classification; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged