HSE advice for specific travellers to Bordeaux following Botulism outbreak linked to restaurant

The HSE has been informed of an incident where people who ate sardines at the Tchin Tchin Wine Bar in Bordeaux have been diagnosed with botulism, unfortunately, a small number of Irish citizens have been affected and are receiving appropriate care in France.

As a result, the HSE is advising anyone who ate sardines at the Tchin Tchin Wine Bar (3 Rue Emile Duploye, 33000 Bordeaux) between Monday 4 September and Sunday 10 September 2023 and who feel unwell to seek urgent medical care at an Emergency Department. 

“It is important to emphasise that this advice only applies to those who ate sardines at the premises during the time specified. There are no other circumstances in which a person can be affected by this incident says Dr Greg Martin, director of the HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC).

He added ‘Botulism can be a serious and potentially fatal condition. Symptoms include blurred vision and difficulty in swallowing and speaking, but sometimes diarrhoea and vomiting can occur. The disease can lead to problems with vision, and paralysis.”

HPSC was alerted of this outbreak on 12 September by French authorities via mechanisms for exchange of information on health threats, with further detail on the implicated restaurant becoming available on 13 September.