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UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Control and Prevention

Public education about botulism prevention is an ongoing activity. State health departments and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have persons knowledgeable about botulism available to consult with physicians 24 hours a day. If antitoxin is needed to treat a patient, it can be quickly delivered to a physician anywhere in the country.

Suspected outbreaks of botulism are quickly investigated, and if they involve a commercial product, the appropriate control measures are coordinated among public health and regulatory agencies. Physicians should report suspected cases of botulism to a state health department.

• Current Description of Botulism: Methods of Control. University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology. Describes a variety of methods to prevent and control the growth and spread of botulism.