IDPH warns of botulism cluster in La Salle County possibly linked to counterfeit Botox injections

The Illinois Department of Public Health alerted health care facilities and especially hospital emergency departments to be on the lookout for patients who present with symptoms similar to botulism after two cases were reported in Illinois of people who received injections in La Salle County of Botox or a similar, possibly counterfeit product.

The IDPH is working with the La Salle County Health Department and the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation to investigate the cluster. A similar incident also was reported by the Tennessee Department of Health, and the IDPH is in contact with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration regarding the investigation.

The two individuals in Illinois reported symptoms similar to botulism such as blurred/double vision, droopy face, fatigue, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing and a hoarse voice following an injection with either Botox or a possibly counterfeit version of the product.

Both individuals in Illinois required hospitalization. Both had received injections from a licensed nurse in La Salle County who was performing work outside her authority.

“Illinois residents should exercise caution when considering cosmetic treatment,” IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra said in a news release. “Receiving these treatments in unlicensed, unapproved settings can put you or your loved ones at serious risk for health problems.

“Please only seek cosmetic services under the care of licensed professionals trained to do these procedures and who use FDA-approved products. If you are experiencing any health problems after a recent cosmetic treatment, please contact your health care provider immediately for help and assistance.”

In Illinois, the injection of botulinum toxin, the key ingredient in Botox, is a practice of medicine that may only be performed by certain licensed professionals who are licensed and regulated by the IDFPR.

• Physicians can perform practices intended to affect the living layers of the skin per the requirements of the Illinois Medical Practice Act.
• Nurses also can perform such practices under the supervision of a physician.
• Advanced practice registered nurses can perform practices consistent with their collaborative agreement with a physician.
• APRNs with full practice authority can perform such practices consistent with their national certification.
• Physician’s assistants can perform such practices consistent with their collaborative agreement with a physician.

Cosmetologists and estheticians are prohibited from performing this practice under their licenses. For information, view the IDPFR’s statement on prohibited practices.

“As the state of Illinois’ head regulatory agency, IDFPR prioritizes protecting consumers and equipping them with the tools they need for safe, informed decision-making,” IDFPR Secretary Mario Treto Jr. said in a news release. “We encourage everyone to use the resources on our website to ensure they receive services from trained, licensed professionals, as well as to inform us of the unlawful provision of medical services to maintain the highest quality of care throughout the state of Illinois.”

Consumers and patients can check whether a professional is licensed with the IDFPR by visiting https://online-dfpr.micropact.com/lookup/licenselookup.aspx. In addition, the unlawful provision of medical services – and any suspected wrongdoing by professionals – should be reported to the IDFPR by filing a complaint at https://idfpr.illinois.gov/admin/complaints.html.

In the alert to health care providers issued April 3, the IDPH urged providers and especially emergency department staff to be on the lookout for patients with symptoms that resemble botulism. Providers also are urged to record a thorough history on any recent receipt of botulinum toxin products, including purpose (such as cosmetic), name and address where the administration occurred, injection sites, number of doses administered, product used, date of administration and person who administered the injection.

Providers are urged to immediately report any such cases to their local health department for further investigation. Cases of botulism always should be reported by local health departments to the IDPH.

Health practitioners should check with Allergan, the FDA-approved maker of Botox, to ensure the distributor they buy from is authorized to distribute Botox. To access a list of authorized Botox suppliers, visit Allergan’s website.

Botulism is a rare but potentially deadly illness characterized by muscle paralysis. Botulism is caused by a nerve toxin that is produced by a bacterium called clostridium botulinum found in nature, which is an ingredient in Botox and other similar substances used for cosmetic reasons.

The purified form of the botulinum toxin is approved by the FDA for use by licensed health care providers as a cosmetic treatment.