With one dead and 23 others ill with botulism, a potentially fatal toxin, health authorities suspect that the contamination came from a salad or food that had canned component. All victims attended the potluck of the Cross Pointe Free Will Baptist Church in Lancaster, Ohio on Sunday.

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The reason why the potluck was pinpointed is that all 24, including a 54-year-old woman who died, was at the potluck, cancelling out the possibility that the toxin was spread throughout the community. This was according to Dr. Andrew Murry, infectious diseases specialist at Lancaster's Fairfield Medical Center, reports ABC.

The Ohio Department of Health brought down on Wednesday to 18 from 24 the number of suspected cases of botulism. Department spokeswoman Cassie Bala said all cases are still suspect, while Murry said that until all test results are back, all are presumed botulism.

Russ Kennedy, another spokesman of the department, said that all of the hospitals in the area who have the victims got antitoxin doses to treat the suspected cases and cut their recovery time.

However, the antitoxin would likely not have been effective for the 54-year-old woman because she was very, very sick, Murry said, reports Lancaster Eagle-Gazette.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explained that botulism is the result of nerve toxin being released by certain bacteria. It added all forms of botulism could potentially kill the victims and are considered medical emergencies.

Since there is a chance that it was improper home canning methods that caused the botulism, health authorities in Lancaster are visiting the homes of parishioners of the Lancaster Baptist church that held the potluck.

Health experts identified low-acid foods such as green beans and potatoes as the most susceptible to being contaminated with the toxin. To address the problem, they suggest the use of a high pressure canner to raise the water temperature above boiling point.

They added food in a can or mason jar must sit flat on a surface. Otherwise, people run the risk of becoming sick if they do not throw away the can. Other signs are cans with dents or labels already falling off.

Tagschurch potluck, food poisoning, botulism