Since early November, 22 people have fallen ill from counterfeit Botox injections administered by unlicensed or untrained individuals in various settings such as homes and spas. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an alert to doctors on Tuesday regarding these cases, which were reported across 11 states.
The CDC stated that the botulinum toxin injections were primarily given for cosmetic purposes, with six people being treated for suspected botulism. Botulism is a deadly disease that can occur when the toxin enters the bloodstream, leading to symptoms such as double or blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, and difficulty breathing.
Health officials emphasized the importance of only getting injections from licensed professionals and urged the public to report any suspected counterfeit products. The Associated Press Health and Science Department is supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the AP is responsible for all content.
