Only 1 of 2 ill Maui men to be tested for botulism

WAILUKU » The state Health Department has sent blood samples of a Maui man for federal testing for botulism but did not send samples of a second man who did not have the symptoms, said spokeswoman Janice Okubo.

Blood samples from Jonathan Stockton of Hana were sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, but state health officials decided not to send blood samples from another Maui resident, Keith Regan.

Okubo said a determination was made to send only Stockton's sample after a health investigator conducted interviews with the two men.

Stockton, 33, of Hana said he ate a can of Cattle Drive brand chili on July 24 and suffered symptoms similar to botulism, including paralysis in the face and muscle weakness.

He was admitted to Maui Memorial Medical Center on Thursday.

Stockton was released from the hospital on Saturday, and samples of his blood have been sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Regan, 35, of Wailuku said he ate Cattle Drive chili on July 20 and was told he had a mild case of botulism when he went to Maui Memorial.

Okubo said she didn't know when the results of the blood tests would be completed.

Okubo said the department officially has no confirmed case of botulism.

Castleberry's Food Co. of Augusta, Ga., recalled more than 90 brands of canned food on July 21, including Cattle Drive chili.

At least two people from Texas and two from Indiana were confirmed to have been sickened by the contaminated food.