Botulism, caused by Clostridium botulinium, is an emerging infectious disease. Clostridium botulinium is a bacterium that produces a neurotoxin that causes botulism. The bacterium is spore-forming and anaerobic, meaning it does not need oxygen to grow. There are three main types of diseases typically caused by Clostridium botulinium: foodborne botulism, infant botulism, and wound botulism. Unbeknownst to common knowledge, infant botulism is the most common form of the disease, comprising 75% of reported cases of the disease (Chan-Tack and Bartlett, 2010). As stated in Chan-Tack and Bartlett's article Botulism, “The incidence of foodborne botulism is approximately 24 cases per year. The incidence of wound botulism is 3 cases per year. The incidence of infant botulism is 71 cases per year, with an average age of 3 months." (2010). Furthermore, in only 15% of Clostridium botulinium outbreaks the toxin type is not determined. The first descriptions of botulism cases were reported by Dr. Justinus Kerner, a German physician, in 1822. He had conducted experiments on himself and laboratory animals, which gave him the results of this case (Taillac, & Kim, 2010). Foodborne botulism was the first form of botulism toxin to be identified. It has very high morbidity and requires prolonged intensive healthcare for complete recovery (Taillac and Kim, 2010). Additionally, people who have been infected with foodborne botulism may sometimes have muscle weakness or other similar problems for up to a year after symptoms first appear. Foodborne botulism is typically caused by improperly canned food. Symptoms of foodborne botulism include, but are not limited to: double vision…half of paper…the United States maintains a stockpile of botulism antitoxin that can be administered in large quantities in less than twelve hours (Taillac and Kim, 2010). Botulism is an emerging infectious disease that should be taken very seriously. Works Cited Chan-Tack, K. M., & Bartlett, J. (2010, March 29). Botulism. Retrieved from http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/213311-overview Davis, B. (2009, February 23). Botulism. Retrieved from http://www.webmd.com/hw-popup/botulism Davis, B. (February 23, 2009). Botulism antitoxin. Retrieved from http://www.webmd.com/hw-popup/botulism-antitoxin Improving treatments for botulism. (2010, May 13). Retrieved from http://www.niaid.nih.gov/topics/botulism/Pages/improvingBotulismTreatment.aspxTaillac, P.P., & Kim, J. (2010, March 23). Cbrne – botulism. Retrieved from http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/829125-overview