143 people in Thailand's northern province of Nan got sick from botulism. This number of people suffering from the disease is the largest ever recorded in Thailand and, probably, in the whole world.

Among the 143 victims, 33 of them needed respirators to assist their breathing, another 36 are awaiting medical examinations to determine if they need respirators, while the remaining 74 patients are hospitalized under close medical supervision.

The disease that has infected the villagers is caused by toxins produced by members of the group of bacteria known as Clostridium botulinum. Thai officials requested an antitoxin serum from the United States, England and Canada to treat the sickened villagers.

Thawat Suntrajarn, the head of Thailand's Disease Control Department, said his country received on Monday 50 doses from England, 10 doses from Canada and another 50 from the U.S and is currently expecting supplies from Japan.

It seems that the people got botulism from eating the traditionally prepared bamboo shoots that had been stored in aluminum trays, which were later discovered to be infected with Clostridium botulinum. This bacterium, which cannot be killed by heat, has been used in biological warfare by terrorists, along with anthrax and smallpox.

The infection is caused only by eating canned food contaminated with Clostridium botulinum, as the toxin requires oxygen-free sealed containers in which to grow. Officials advised consumers to purchase only intact, undamaged tinned food.