Texas

Galveston County infant hospitalized with botulism as health officials grapple with multistate outbreak

Houston Public Media News 88.7 | By Julianna Washburn

Published November 22, 2025 at 9:14 AM CST

Pictured is the Texas Children’s Hospital location in the Texas Medical Center in Houston.

A four-month-old from Galveston County has been hospitalized with infant botulism, theGalveston County Health District(GCHD) confirmed Friday. The diagnosis comes as federal and state healthofficials investigateamultistate outbreakof infant botulism linked to infant formula.

As of Wednesday, theFood and Drug Administration (FDA) said31 cases of suspected or confirmed infant botulism have been reported in babies who were exposed toByHeart Whole Nutrition formula. No deaths have been reported.

GCHD said infant botulism occurs when babies ingest Clostridium botulinum spores that produce toxin in the gut, leading to symptoms like constipation, difficulty feeding, a weak or altered cry and loss of head control.Infant botulism can cause a potentiallylife-threatening form of gradual paralysisin infants less than a year old.

ByHeart Inc. has recalled all of its Whole Nutrition Infant Formula products in response to the investigation.

"We have been working in cooperation with the FDA, and we are investigating every facet of our process – from ingredient-sourcing to our manufacturing process and facilities, packaging, transportation, everything,"ByHeart Inc. said in a note to families.

GCHD recommended that anyone who has any ByHeart formula stop using it immediately and clean any bottles, surfaces and feeding equipment that may have come into contact with the formula with hot, soapy water or a dishwasher.

The health district also said to seek medical attention for symptoms including poor feeding, loss of head control, difficulty swallowing, or decreased facial expression.

The Galveston County infant diagnosed with infant botulism is at Texas Children's Hospital and is on a ventilator and is receiving Botulism Immune Globulin Intravenous, or BabyBig, a recommended treatment for infant botulism, according to GCHD.

GCHD said it's working closely with the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the FDA regarding the confirmed case.