Nassau infant hospitalized in botulism outbreak linked to baby formula, authorities say

An infant from Nassau County has been hospitalized after ingesting formula linked to an outbreak of potentially fatal infant botulism across multiple states, county health officials said.

The child remained hospitalized in stable condition Tuesday, but lab results have not been released to show a link to infant botulism, according to a Nassau County Department of Health news release.

"Infant botulism can be lethal if the child is not under observation," Dr. Sharon Nachman, chief of pediatric infectious diseases at Stony Brook Children's Hospital, told Newsday. "The rehab from infant botulism is not measured in days. It's often weeks and sometimes months."

No infants have died as a result of the outbreak, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

On Tuesday, the outbreak spurred Manhattan-based ByHeart to recall all of its formula, including cans and single-serving sticks, according to an online statement from the company's founders. Three days earlier, the company had recalled two batches following cases of the illness.

Fifteen confirmed cases of infant botulism have been reported in 12 states, while other suspected cases, such as the one in Nassau, await lab results, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The 15 infants were hospitalized after consuming ByHeart formula, according to the FDA. No cases have been confirmed in New York State.

ByHeart has so far not detected the bacteria that cause infant botulism in unopened formula products, according to the company.

Parents should stop feeding their infants any ByHeart formula, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said in online guidance. Caregivers should photograph or note the lot number and expiration date on any ByHeart package in their home, clearly label it as not for use and store it in a secure spot for 30 days. If a child begins showing symptoms, which can take up to one month, state health officials may collect the formula for testing.

Nassau health officials did not reveal the sickened child's age or hometown. Information about when the child became ill or where they are hospitalized was also unavailable Tuesday.

Infant botulism generally affects children younger than 1, as their gastrointestinal track cannot yet kill the spores produced by the Clostridium botulinum bacteria, according to health experts.

The first symptom of infant botulism is often constipation, Dr. David Fagan, vice chairman of pediatric ambulatory administration at Cohen Children's Medical Center in Queens, told Newsday.

"Any baby who's had ByHeart formula and has constipation, that should be a red flag," Fagan said.

Other warning signs include poor nursing, a weak cry, prolonged sleep and a decline in "the usual things that we expect babies to do" like "pick their heads up, move their arms, kick their legs," Nachman said.

"It could be related to something else, but those symptoms are worrisome," Nachman added. "If your infant has these symptoms, please go see your doctor."

ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula occupies a less than 1% share of the infant formula market, "and this outbreak does not create shortage concerns of infant formula for parents and caregivers," the FDA said.

In addition to launching independent testing at a third-party lab, ByHeart is "providing the FDA complete and unrestricted access to all of our facilities and products for their investigation, which has been done regularly at our owned facilities," the company said in a statement. "We will share the results of our own testing as they become available."

The company said it decided to broaden its initial recall after a call from the FDA late Monday night, informing the company of two new cases of infant botulism in babies that had consumed ByHeart formula  at some point.