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Eight more infants have been hospitalized amid an ongoing infant botulism outbreak, linked to baby formula
A total of 31 babies have been sickened, and all have been hospitalized
All of ByHeart formula products have been recalled, as the company said in a statement it's "committed to finding the answers"
Eight more infants have been hospitalized amid anongoing outbreakof infant botulism in baby formula, where babies as young as 16 days have been sickened.
The recall of ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula was first announced by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in a Nov. 8news release, which stated that two batches of the formula were being recalled after being linked to several cases of infant botulism.
The recall was expanded to include all ByHeart formula products, theFDAannounced on Nov. 20, saying, "Epidemiologic and laboratory data show that ByHeart Whole Nutrition infant formula might be contaminated withClostridium botulinum, [the bacteria that causes botulism] which is causing infant illness in multiple regions of the country."
A total of 31 babies have been hospitalized, theU.S. Centers for Disease Controlsaid in a Nov. 21 update on the outbreak, and per available data from the FDA, the sickened babies are under a year old and as young as 16 days.
The CDC noted that symptoms to watch for are, at first, constipation, but can progress to "difficulty feeding (sucking and swallowing), a weak and altered cry, and lack of head control."
If left untreated, the CDC says babies can develop a "progressive, flaccid paralysis" which can cause breathing problems, and require "weeks of hospitalization."
In a statement on its website,ByHeartsays, "we are working to investigate the facts, conduct ongoing testing to identify the source, and ensure this does not happen to families again. We continue to urge parents and caregivers to stop using ByHeart formula immediately, monitor your child for symptoms of infant botulism, and seek medical care immediately if they develop symptoms."
The company said they are working with the FDA and "investigating every facet of our process – from ingredient-sourcing to our manufacturing process and facilities, packaging, transportation, everything."
ByHeart's statement continued: "We do not yet know the root cause, but we are committed to finding the answers. We are doing everything we can to ensure this investigation reveals solutions and aids in understanding cases of infant botulism broadly. That's what parents, the medical community, and you deserve."
The outbreak spans 15 states, the FDA says, including Arizona, California, Idaho, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas and Washington.
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Texas has seen the most cases, per the agency.
Kentucky mom Hanna Everett, whose four-month-old daughter Piper was hospitalized withbotulismafter drinking the formula,told PEOPLE, "She went through so much at such a young age and all we can hope is that it doesn't follow her through life."
"We hope she is too young to remember this. Unfortunately, we aren't as lucky, [as we] are pretty traumatized from it all," Everett said, adding, "She is going to need speech and feeding therapy, so [we] are hoping that goes well and helps her. Other than struggling with her bottles and being exhausted, she's mainly back to her normal, happy self, thank God."
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