A 46-year-old woman, Gerardina Corsaro, died at the Frangipane hospital in Ariano Irpino (Avellino) perhaps due to botulinum poisoning. Her husband, Angelo Mennino, 52 years old, who presents the same symptoms, was transferred to the "Cotugno" in Naples.
The couple ate a meal in a pizzeria on Saturday evening and both felt their first illnesses shortly after returning home. The next day the pain progressively increased. The two, who were at a baptism where Gerardina was the godmother, decided to leave the ceremony to be visited in hospital.
After the tests carried out in the emergency room they were discharged. The same thing happened the next day, Monday, when due to the persistence of the pain, they returned to hospital again and, from there, were discharged again. During the night between Monday and Tuesday the situation worsened: the rush to the hospital did not save the life of Gerardina, who was hospitalized together with her husband, suffering from spasms, severe pain and cold sweats.
The autopsy ordered by the prosecutor of the Court of Benevento, Marilia Capitanio, will establish whether the death is attributable to botulinum poisoning.
A niece of the couple reported that during dinner at the pizzeria, Angelo, after seasoning the pizza with chilli oil, noticed a strange smell, inviting his wife to taste a piece.
(Unioneonline/ss)
