The city of Amarillo Department of Public Health is investigating four botulism cases after four people have been hospitalized with symptoms of the bacteria.

All four people in the cases are hospitalized at this time, two patients have received the antitoxin and are improving slowly. All of the patients know one of the other patients but DPH has yet to find a definitive link between the cases and a specific restaurant, food, school, workplace or church.

At this time officials are asking doctors and patients to watch for these symptoms so health officials can respond to the cases quickly. DPH and the City of Amarillo Environmental Health are working with the Texas Department of State Health Services and Centers for Disease Control. Food samples have been submitted for testing and results are expected within the next two days.