It's a bacterium that can produce one of the world's

這種細菌可產生世界上。

most lethal substances.

最致命的物質。

It lives in lots of places including soil,

這種細菌存在許多地方，包括土壤。

pollen, dust, and also in honey.

花粉、灰塵，還有蜂蜜中。

So why haven't you died from eating this sweet treat?

那為什麼你還沒因吃下這些甜食而死呢？

Because you're not a baby.

因為你不是嬰兒。

As C. botulinum grows, it produces botulinum toxin.

肉毒桿菌生長時會產生肉毒桿菌毒素。

It's the same stuff used in Botox,

這毒素和注射用肉毒桿菌裡的一樣。

but Botox has an extremely

但肉毒桿菌針裡的毒素。

low dose compared to infected food.

與受感染的食物相比，劑量相當低。

In large amounts,

若量較大。

the toxin would attack your nervous system,

毒素會攻擊您的神經系統。

causing the illness known as botulism,

造成所謂的肉毒桿菌中毒這種疾病。

which can lead to paralysis and even death.

可能導致癱瘓，甚至死亡。

And since C. botulinum is so common in our environment,

肉毒桿菌普遍存在於我們的環境中。

researchers believe that bees pick it up on their way

研究人員認為，蜜蜂在飛往

to the hive where they produce honey.

蜂巢生產蜂蜜的途中，攜帶了這種菌。

One study found C. botulinum bacteria

一項研究發現，肉毒桿菌。

in about 8% of honey samples.

存在於約 8％ 的蜂蜜樣本中。

But before you purge your pantry, consider this.

但是，在你開始整理食物儲藏間前，請三思。

Normally when we encounter C. Botulinum, like in honey,

一般我們接觸肉毒桿菌時，就像接觸蜂蜜一樣。

it's dormant.

它是處於休眠狀態。

In this sleepy state, it can't produce the toxin.

在這種休眠狀態下，它無法產生毒素。

Even if you ate it.

即便你吃下它也沒有毒。

Unless, of course, you're less than 1 year old.

除非，你未滿 1 歲。

When C. botulinum enters a baby's large intestine,

當肉毒桿菌進入嬰兒大腸時。

it comes alive because unlike children and adults,

肉毒桿菌就會甦醒，不像兒童或成人。

babies less than 1 year old haven't been eating

不到一歲的寶寶還沒吃過。

real solid foods.

真正的固體食物。

They've been drinking milk.

他們一直在喝奶。

But when babies are around 4 to 6 months old,

但當寶寶長大到大約四至六個月時。

they stop drinking human milk, and they start eating

他們停止喝母乳，開始吃。

other foods that they've never had before.

其他先前沒吃過的食物。

As a result, their gut microbes change very abruptly,

結果導致他們腸道裡的微生物產生急遽變化

and it's during this transition period in the baby's gut

在這嬰兒腸道微生物變化的過渡期間。

that the lethal C. botulinum bacteria are free to grow

致命的肉毒桿菌細菌便會自由生長。

and produce the toxin.

並產生毒素。

As the toxin enters the baby's bloodstream,

當毒素進入嬰兒血液。

it blocks the ability of motor nerves to release

毒素會阻止運動神經釋放。

acetylcholine, a chemical messenger

乙酰膽鹼，乙酰膽鹼是一種化學信使。

that sends nerve signals to muscles.

功能是向肌肉發送神經信號。

As a result, the baby starts to lose control of muscles

最後，嬰兒會開始失去控制肌肉的能力。

and appears tired and floppy.

顯得疲倦又鬆軟。

And as more toxin enters the bloodstream, the muscles

隨著更多的毒素進入血液。

that control swallowing and breathing stop working.

控制吞嚥和呼吸的肌肉會停止工作。

Fortunately, infant botulism is not very common,

幸運的是，嬰兒肉毒桿菌中毒並不常見。

and infant botulism due to honey is even rarer.

蜂蜜引起的嬰兒肉毒桿菌中毒甚至可說是罕見。

Fewer than 100 cases occur in the US each year,

每年在美國發生的病例不到100件。

and while it's difficult to pinpoint the source

雖然很多情況下難以確定。

of the bacterium in many cases,

細菌來源。

experts think that honey accounts for 15%.

但專家認為蜂蜜佔了 15％。

So it's important that if your infant shows signs

因此，重要的是，如果您的嬰兒出現。

of weakness, you take them to be evaluated

虛弱跡象，請帶他們進行醫療評估。

by medical professionals immediately.

讓醫療專業人員對其立即診斷。

In some cases, doctors can administer

某些情況下，醫生能給予。

an effective antitoxin,

有效的抗毒素。

but it can take babies weeks or a month to recover.

但嬰兒可能需要數週或一個月後才能恢復。

The FDA recommends waiting until your baby's first birthday

美國食品和藥物管理局建議等到寶寶一歲生日時。

to feed them honey or any products

再餵他們吃蜂蜜或是。

that are filled with or dipped in honey.

任何充滿或摻雜蜂蜜的食品。