Botulism
Botulism is a muscle-paralyzing disease. The most common form of the disease is food-borne botulism, which occurs when a patient has eats food that is contaminated with a pre-formed toxin made by a bacterium called Clostridium botulinum.

Symptoms of food-borne botulism usually begin within 12 to 36 hours, but can appear anywhere from six hours to two weeks after eating food containing the toxin. Symptoms include double vision, blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, dry mouth and muscle weakness that descends through the body. Paralysis of breathing muscles can lead to death if assistance is not provided.

Botulism can not be spread from person to person.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention maintains a supply of antitoxin against botulism that reduces symptoms if given early in the course of the disease. Most patients eventually recover after weeks to months of supportive care.