Woman, 23, in Colorado left paralyzed from the neck down and on a ventilator ... trends now
A woman in Colorado has been left paralyzed and fighting for her life after fighting a deadly bacterial infection - which her friends think she got from canned soup.
Snowboarder Claudia de Albuquerque Celada, 23, originally from Brazil, was on a work exchange program in Aspen when she started suffering dizziness, double vision, and trouble breathing.
Within 24 hours, all of the muscles in her body became paralyzed, leaving her on a ventilator.
It would take two weeks for doctors to find the cause: botulism, an infection that attacks the body's nerve tissue and affects just 100 Americans per year.
People familiar with Ms Albuquerque Celada's case believe she got the illness after consuming contaminated soup.
Claudia de Albuquerque Celada, 23, originally from Brazil, was on a work exchange program in Colorado when she became infected with botulism. The disease, which affects about 100 Americans every year, left her paralyzed
Sources familar with Ms Albuquerque Celada's case said she became infected with botulism from canned soup that she got while bartering in the ski town of Aspen
Botulism is caused by eating foods that have been contaminated with the bacteria C botulinum. These toxins attack the nervous system and can cause paralysis
It most commonly occurs in homemade canning, when the food is improperly preserved. In the past, botulism has been linked to foods like sardines, pesto, tomatoes and pickles.
The illness does not spread from person to person and there is no risk to the general population.
Ms Albuquerque Celada's sister, Luisa Albuquerque, wrote on Instagram that her sister moved to Colorado in November for her 'dream job,' though it's unclear what industry she worked in.
About 15 days after purchasing the soup, Luisa said that her sister left work early as she started to feel ill. 'She took a shower, had dinner and went to bed, but she had shortness of breath, blurred vision and dizziness,' Luisa told Portugese outlet UOL.
'She sent a message to her friends to go to her apartment, but they only say it in the morning.'
'When they arrived, my sister was already much worse, she could barely breathe on her own and she had facial paralysis.'
She also suffered weak muscles, arms, and legs. Some other very weak muscles, weak arms, weak legs.
'She went to the hospital and, soon after, she was 100 percent paralyzed,' Luisa said.
Ms Albuquerque Celada's family was able to fly to Colorado within a week. She was diagnosed on March 1.
The family suspects Ms Albuquerque Celada will need six months to a year to recover from her illness. As of now, she is on a ventilator and will be transferred back to Brazil
