Health
CDC investigating fake Botox injections: ‘Serious and sometimes fatal’
Fake Botox is on the CDC’s radar.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on Friday that it is investigating reports of “a few botulism-like illnesses in several states resulting from botulinum toxin injections (commonly called ‘Botox’) administered in non-medical settings,” the agency said in a statement.
“We are coordinating a multi-state outbreak investigation,” the agency added.
WHAT EXACTLY IS BOTOX?
Illnesses have been reported to the Tennessee and Illinois health departments, which are working with the CDC and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on the investigation, the CDC noted.
The CDC said it is investigating reports of “a few botulism-like illnesses in several states resulting from botulinum toxin injections (commonly called ‘Botox’) administered in non-medical settings,” the agency said in a statement. (REUTERS/Tami Chappell)
In Tennessee, four patients sought medical care after experiencing “botulism-like signs and symptoms” after receiving Botox injections for cosmetic purposes, according to an online statement from the Tennessee Department of Health.
Two of the patients were hospitalized.
“Do not go to an unlicensed provider. If the offer seems too good to be true, it probably is.”
“Joint investigations have identified concerns about use of counterfeit products or products with unclear origin administered in non-medical settings such as homes or cosmetic spas,” the statement said.
The Illinois Department of Public Health issued a similar statement after two patients reported receiving potentially counterfeit Botox injections in LaSalle County.
ARTIFICIAL BEAUTY: WARNING OF THREATS TO GIRLS’ SELF-ESTEEM, DOVE RECOMMITS TO NEVER USING AI IN ADS
The two individuals reported symptoms that included blurred/double vision, droopy face, fatigue, difficulty breathing, shortness of breath and hoarse voice, the statement said.
The patients, both of whom were hospitalized, received the injections from a licensed nurse who was “performing work outside her authority.”
Botulism is a “serious and sometimes fatal” illness that occurs when a toxin attacks the body’s nerves, according to the CDC. (iStock)
Additional cases have been reported in Kentucky, Washington and Colorado.
“The sources of these botulinum toxin products are unknown or unverified at this time,” the CDC stated.
“Questions about product regulation and product investigation should be directed to the FDA.”
What is botulism?
Botulism is a “serious and sometimes fatal” illness that occurs when a toxin attacks the body’s nerves, according to the CDC.
Initial symptoms usually include muscle weakness around the eyes, face, mouth and throat, which could also spread to the neck, arms, torso and legs.
“If the wrong patient begins having trouble with their breathing, it could be fatal.”
Other symptoms can include blurred or double vision, difficulty breathing, trouble swallowing, drooping eyelids, slurred speech and difficulty moving the eyes.
“What’s particularly concerning are the respiratory problems that some are experiencing,” Dr. Salar Hazany, a certified dermatologist and reconstructive surgeon at Scar Healing Institute in Beverly Hills, told Fox News Digital.
“If the wrong patient begins having trouble with their breathing, it could be fatal.”
Botox is made from a specific type of Clostridium botulinum, a bacteria that produces paralysis in the muscles where it is injected. (iStock)
Dr. Craig Lehrman, director of aesthetic surgery at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, noted that fake Botox has been an issue since the early 2000s.
“Unfortunately, I treat several patients a year who have received non-approved injectables of things they are told to be safe, which ends up having serious consequences,” he told Fox News Digital.
“It has mostly been linked to injections in settings such as someone’s home or a poorly regulated med spa.”
CALIFORNIA PLASTIC SURGERY ‘ADDICT’ DISSOLVES FILLER TO ‘EMBRACE BEAUTY’ AFTER SPENDING $50K ON PROCEDURES
Botox is made from a specific type of Clostridium botulinum, a bacteria that produces paralysis in the muscles where it is injected, he said.
“The people receiving the presumed counterfeit Botox are suffering from an illness that is similar to botulism, caused by the same bacteria,” he said.
There are strict safety criteria for the use and storage of Botox, and serious risks come with the injection of fraudulent or poorly managed products, an expert warned. (iStock)
There are strict safety criteria for the use and storage of Botox, and serious risks come with the injection of fraudulent or poorly managed products, Lehrman warned.
“Botulism can carry detrimental effects ranging from infection, to permanent deformity, to serious wound formation.”
Tips for safe Botox use
“Cosmetic injections should be an FDA-approved product, administered by licensed providers and in licensed settings,” the CDC stated.
There has been a large increase in the number of people offering these services who are not board-certified in the fields of plastic surgery, dermatology or ENT, according to Lehrman.
PLASTIC SURGERY DEATHS HAVE SPIKED AMONG US PATIENTS WHO TRAVELED TO DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: CDC REPORT
“I would advise potential patients to do their research on the person who will be injecting them — and not just search for the cheapest option,” he said.
“I would recommend going to a center that has rigorous standards of education and a track record of safety.”
In most cases, Botox injections are safe, according to experts.
Anyone who experiences botulism-like symptoms following an injection should seek medical attention, according to health officials. (iStock)
“Laboratory-confirmed cases of systemic botulism occurring after cosmetic or therapeutic injections of botulinum toxin are rare,” the CDC said in its statement.
Millions of injections are performed each year by licensed medical providers and have been shown to be safe when done in the correct manner, Lehrman added.
“Those considering Botox should research the background of the provider and make sure that the practice has not racked up a number of complaints,” added Hazany.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
“Do not go to an unlicensed provider. If the offer seems too good to be true, it probably is.”
Anyone who experiences botulism-like symptoms following an injection should seek medical attention, according to health officials.
Fox News Digital reached out to Abbvie (manufacturer of Botox), the FDA, the Tennessee Department of Public Health, and the Illinois Department of Public Health requesting comment.
For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health.
CDC official outlines severity of cyclosporiasis as cases surges across US
Cases of Cyclosporiasis, a foodborne parasitic illness, are skyrocketing across 34 states, with nearly 7,000 confirmed or under investigation cases. CDC Deputy Director Gwen Biggerstaff highlights that symptoms like diarrhea and cramping can be severe, urging affected individuals to consult doctors about specific antibiotic treatments. The CDC anticipates identifying the outbreak’s source soon.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Health officials are warning that what many people dismiss as a routine summer stomach bug may actually be cyclosporiasis, as the U.S. experiences one of its largest foodborne parasite outbreaks on record.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed more than 1,600 domestic cases of cyclosporiasis since May, with over 5,100 additional cases currently under investigation.
The intestinal infection is caused by Cyclospora (Cyclospora cayetanensis), a microscopic parasite that spreads through contaminated food or water.
IS LETTUCE STILL SAFE TO EAT AMID TACO BELL ILLNESS PROBE? DOCTORS ANSWER
The outbreak has sickened thousands of people, particularly in Midwestern states such as Michigan and Ohio, causing prolonged bouts of severe gastrointestinal illness.
Symptoms usually begin about one week after consuming contaminated food or water, although the incubation period can range from about two days to two weeks, according to the CDC.
Patients should seek diagnostic testing through their primary care physician, saving the emergency department for the treatment of severe dehydration. (iStock)
Early symptoms can overlap with those of a common viral stomach bug, including abdominal pain, nausea and watery diarrhea. Some patients also experience loss of appetite, fatigue and weight loss.
The primary differences lie in how long the illness lasts and how severe the symptoms become, according to Dr. Kenneth Perry, an emergency physician based in South Carolina.
HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS STOMACH BUG SPREADS FAST, HITTING CERTAIN PATIENTS HARDEST
Routine stomach bugs are typically short-lived, resolving within 24 to 48 hours, the doctor said. Even if mild symptoms linger, patients generally feel better after two days.
“Cyclospora is different in this regard,” Perry told Fox News Digital. “It lasts longer, with far more profound watery, foul-smelling diarrhea and abdominal cramping.”
A massive surge in Cyclospora cases means people may be mistaking this parasitic foodborne infection for a standard summer stomach bug. (iStock)
It is possible to test for Cyclospora, but healthcare providers must specifically request it, as the parasite is not routinely included in standard stool testing and many gastrointestinal PCR panels do not detect it, according to the CDC.
Diagnosis is made by examining stool specimens, although patients may need to submit several samples collected on different days, as even symptomatic people may not shed enough of the parasite for it to be readily detected, per the above source.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
If symptoms strongly suggest Cyclospora despite an initial negative test, the screening may need to be repeated, Perry noted.
A primary care physician is often the best point of contact for patients seeking a diagnosis, as most routine stool tests performed in emergency departments do not screen for Cyclospora. A family doctor can order the specialized test if it’s suspected.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES
“The emergency department is the appropriate setting for treating downstream symptoms, such as nausea, diarrhea and dehydration,” Perry told Fox News Digital.
People who suspect they have contracted the parasite can also check FDA and CDC food safety alerts to see whether they may have been exposed to a recalled or implicated product.
While routine stomach viruses usually resolve within 48 hours, Cyclospora infections linger much longer with severe, watery and foul-smelling diarrhea. (iStock)
Patients should also focus on staying hydrated by monitoring their urine output. Perry recommends using over-the-counter pediatric formulas, which offer a more effective salt-to-sugar ratio than commercial sports drinks.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Anyone whose diarrhea lasts more than two to three days, worsens or is accompanied by signs of dehydration should contact a primary care physician.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
Unlike most viral stomach bugs, Cyclospora is treatable with prescription antibiotics. The CDC recommends trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) as the standard treatment, while people who cannot take sulfa drugs should discuss alternatives with their healthcare provider.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Neurologists are warning that popular weight-loss medications could have severe negative effects on neurodegenerative conditions like ALS.
Jinsy Andrews, MD, a neurologist and director of NYU Langone’s ALS Center, says the very mechanism that makes these drugs popular — rapid weight loss — can go against the biological needs of patients with neuromuscular disorders.
GLP-1 agonists have shown to be highly effective at managing diabetes and obesity, which are major health concerns across the population. However, the doctor emphasized that the clinical rules shift when dealing with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
DR OZ LINKS OBESITY TO CHRONIC DISEASE SURGE, SAYS GLP-1S CAN ‘JUMPSTART’ BETTER HEALTH
In addition to mitigating some of the inflammation related to obesity and diabetes, GLP-1 medications have been linked to other protective effects.
The therapies have been helpful in reducing cardiovascular disease, stroke risk, liver disease and addiction, according to Andrews.
Neurologists are warning that the rapid weight loss caused by popular GLP-1 medications can severely worsen neurodegenerative conditions like ALS. (iStock)
However, when it comes to an incurable neurodegenerative disease, losing weight and body fat can accelerate a patient’s physical decline.
For an ALS patient, losing weight can cause the condition to progress faster, Andrews said, because the disease’s unique traits make it dangerous to be in a caloric deficit.
BIG MEDICARE CHANGE SLASHES WEIGHT-LOSS DRUG COSTS FOR ELIGIBLE SENIORS
In fact, standard clinical care guidelines for ALS often recommend that patients actively maintain or even gain weight to help preserve their remaining nerve and muscle function.
While GLP-1s effectively treat obesity and cardiovascular risks in the general public, those same afflictions have been shown to slow ALS progression. (iStock)
“In certain conditions where hypermetabolism is something that negatively affects the disease […] losing weight actually makes the disease worse and move faster,” Andrews told Fox News Digital..
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES
“So, in the setting of a person with ALS — whether they have diabetes or not — using GLP-1s may actually worsen the disease and make for a rapid progression.”
A peer-reviewed case study revealed that an ALS patient experienced a massive, 10-fold acceleration in physical deterioration after starting semaglutide. (iStock)
In a 2025 case report published in the medical journal Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Degeneration, a 52-year-old ALS patient was prescribed semaglutide to treat her type 2 diabetes.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
Prior to starting the medication, her physical functions were declining at a predictable rate on the standard ALS rating scale.
According to the case report, the patient lost 25 pounds in three months. At the same time, she experienced a sudden, dramatic shift in her disease trajectory, with symptoms worsening significantly.
“GLP-1s may actually worsen the disease and make for a rapid progression.”
Once the semaglutide was discontinued at the advice of medical professionals, the patient’s rapid physical decline stabilized.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Andrews pointed out that this published documentation, alongside retrospective cohort data of ALS patients with diabetes, provides growing evidence that clinicians must be careful and thoughtful about who they treat with GLP-1 receptor agonists.
While weight-loss medications offer significant benefits for many patients, experts say maintaining body weight and muscle mass remains an important consideration for people with neurodegenerative diseases.
Healthcare providers should be highly cautious and context-aware when prescribing GLP-1 receptor agonists to patients with underlying neurodegenerative diseases, a neurologist cautioned. (iStock)
“Patient safety is of utmost importance to Novo Nordisk, and we take all reports about adverse events from the use of our medicines very seriously,” Ambre James-Brown, global head and AVP of global media at Novo Nordisk, maker of Ozempic and Wegovy, told Fox News Digital.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
“It’s important to note that ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases are not listed adverse reactions or warnings and precautions in the prescribing information for our semaglutide products, including Ozempic or Wegovy,” he added.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Millions of Americans with high cholesterol now have a new treatment option, as the FDA has approved the first once-daily oral PCSK9 inhibitor.
Merck, the New Jersey-based manufacturer of Lipfendra (enlicitide), announced the approval on Thursday.
Lipfendra blocks the action of PCSK9, a naturally occurring protein that affects how the liver removes LDL (“bad”) cholesterol from the bloodstream.
DR OZ LINKS OBESITY TO CHRONIC DISEASE SURGE, SAYS GLP-1S CAN ‘JUMPSTART’ BETTER HEALTH
“PCSK-9 is a protein that works in the liver, preventing the recycling of LDL receptors, as a result increasing bad cholesterol in the blood,” Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News senior medical analyst, told Fox News Digital.
Millions of Americans with high cholesterol now have a new treatment option, as the FDA has approved the first once-daily oral PCSK9 inhibitor. (iStock)
“In the caveman days, this was useful when we were hunter-gatherers and didn’t always have food, but now it mainly forms plaques that lead directly to heart disease.”
YOUR RESTING HEART RATE COULD REVEAL MORE ABOUT YOUR HEALTH THAN YOU THINK, DOCTORS SAY
The pill is approved as an add-on to diet and other LDL-lowering therapies in adults with high cholesterol, including inherited forms of high cholesterol, Merck stated.
In phase 3 clinical trials, Lipfendra was shown to reduce LDL cholesterol by roughly 56% to 60% when combined with statin therapy.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
“This is around double the impact of statins,” Siegel noted.
The pill was generally well-tolerated in the trials, Merck reported. The most common side effects were diarrhea and dizziness, while serious side effects and treatment discontinuations occurred at rates similar to those in the placebo group.
The pill was generally well-tolerated in the trials, Merck reported. The most common side effects were diarrhea and dizziness, while serious side effects and treatment discontinuations occurred at rates similar to those in the placebo group. (iStock)
Statins, which work by blocking an enzyme in the liver that the body uses to make cholesterol, are the most commonly prescribed cholesterol-lowering medications, according to the American Heart Association.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
For many people, statins are effective on their own. But for some patients who have very high cholesterol levels, inherited forms of high cholesterol or adverse side effects when taking statins, another medication — such as a PCSK9 inhibitor like Lipfendra — may be necessary, per the AHA.
Lipfendra blocks the action of PCSK9, a naturally occurring protein that affects how the liver removes LDL (“bad”) cholesterol from the bloodstream. (iStock)
Until now, PCSK9 inhibitors — such as Repatha and Praluent — have only been available as injections, a factor experts say may have contributed to their underuse.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES
“Repatha, the injectable form, is very useful, with few side effects,” Siegel noted. “The oral form, Lipfendra, is also well-tolerated and just as effective.”
Additional research is needed to determine whether Lipfendra also reduces the risk of heart attacks, strokes and cardiovascular deaths. Results from a large clinical trial are expected to be available in 2029, Merck stated. (Merck & Co.)
Additional research is needed to determine whether Lipfendra also reduces the risk of heart attacks, strokes and cardiovascular deaths. Results from a large clinical trial are expected to be available in 2029, Merck stated.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
“Steve Nissen, longtime head of preventive cardiology at Cleveland Clinic, tells me that the lower the better when it comes to LDL cholesterol, especially in those at risk for heart disease,” Siegel added.
-
Technology11 minutes agoApple’s plot to crush OpenAI
-
World17 minutes agoLeaked Iran report finds record public anger as regime focuses on holding power
-
Politics23 minutes agoWhite House dishes out new election security jab over Olive Garden’s pasta pass ID policy
-
Health29 minutes agoDoctors warn your ‘stomach bug’ may actually be a parasite that’s harder to detect
-
Sports35 minutes agoAEW star Kenny Omega blasts social media user over Charlie Kirk comment
-
Technology41 minutes agoNew bank scam laws could stop suspicious payments
-
Business47 minutes agoEnvironmental groups press to halt Imperial Valley lithium venture
-
Entertainment53 minutes agoNetflix stock plunges to 52-week low following mixed earnings report
