CDC Updates Counterfeit Botox Investigation

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), several state and local health departments, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are investigating reports of harmful reactions among people who received injections of counterfeit or mishandled botulinum toxin, the CDC said in a statement May 9.

“As of May 8, 2024, a total of 15 people from 9 states have reported harmful reactions after receiving injections with counterfeit products, products from unverified sources, or from individuals who were not following state or local requirements,” The statement says. “Investigation into the sources of these products is ongoing.”

Since the CDC’s previous update, seven people were excluded from the investigation as public health officials determined they received injections with FDA-approved botulinum toxin and the individuals who administered the injections followed jurisdictional requirements.

The 15 people included in this investigation had reactions on dates ranging from November 4, 2023, through March 31, 2024. States reporting these reactions include California (2), Colorado (1), Florida (1), Illinois (2), Kentucky (1), New Jersey (1), New York (3), Tennessee (3), and Texas (1).

Overall, 11 people were hospitalized and six were treated with botulism antitoxin because of concerns that the botulinum toxin could have spread beyond the injection site. Among seven people tested for botulism, all had negative results.