Woman Survives Rare Botulism After Eating Fermented Swordfish

A 24-year-old woman from the US has survived a rare case of botulism after eating fermented swordfish. Trinity Peterson-Mayes fell severely ill, suffering paralysis and breathing difficulties, but is now recovering in hospital. Doctors expect her to leave rehabilitation as early as Wednesday.

Peterson-Mayes first noticed something was wrong when she struggled to swallow water and nearly choked on coffee. She had eaten a small piece of fermented swordfish days earlier, finding its taste unpleasant but not suspecting it would make her dangerously ill. Two friends who also tried the fish were briefly hospitalised with botulism.

After her symptoms worsened, she was rushed to St. Joseph's Medical Center and later transferred to Barrow Neurological Institute. There, doctors diagnosed botulism and treated her with an antitoxin. The condition caused partial paralysis and made breathing difficult, requiring intensive care. This case follows a pattern seen in other states. California, Alaska, and Oregon report the highest numbers of foodborne botulism in the US, with around 20 to 30 cases annually. Many are linked to home-canned foods or traditional dishes. Peterson-Mayes and her friends had sampled the swordfish believing it would benefit gut health. Her mother launched an online fundraiser to help cover mounting medical costs. The recovery comes years after Peterson-Mayes twice survived childhood cancer.

Peterson-Mayes is now stable and expected to leave rehabilitation soon. Her case highlights the risks of improperly prepared fermented foods. Two others who ate the same fish also fell ill but have since recovered.