A WEST Fife baby is in a "critical but stable" condition in hospital after being struck down by the extremely rare and life-threatening disease, botulism.

Logan Douglas, who is just 16 weeks old and lives with his parents in Oakley, has been in the Royal Sick Children's Hospital in Edinburgh since 19th September.

As the family continues a bedside vigil in intensive care they have asked the media for privacy during a difficult time.

It has been reported that little Logan has been paralysed by the illness and is on a respirator.

Mum Theresa Fitzpatrick said, "We are pleased that he's in the best place to get the treatment he needs and hope he will be fit and strong again as soon as possible." Dad Alex Douglas said, "He's our bonnie lad and we are looking forward to getting him back home soon and seeing him smiling again." Health Protection Scotland has said that since its electronic records began in 1983 there have been no reported cases of infant botulism, which can cause muscle weakness, paralysis and severe breathing problems.

The condition typically affects babies aged from three weeks to six months but can strike until the first birthday.

After that age, as the digestive system matures, the body is able to deal with spores of bacteria which cause the illness.

Antibiotics are not used in the treatment of botulism as they can create fatal complications.

A NHS website stated that there have been only six cases of infant botulism in England and Wales in the last 25 years with no fatalities.

It added, "Infant botulism occurs when a baby ingests spores of the clostridium botulinum bacteria.

"These spores then make their way to the intestine where they begin to produce toxins.

"Clostridium botulinum bacteria spores are harmless to older children and adults because after the age of one you develop defences that counter the effects of the spores.

"Honey and corn syrup have been known to cause some cases of infant botulism, although in the majority of cases no definitive cause was found.

"There have been no cases of infant botulism in England and Wales since 2001.

"If treated promptly, the outlook for somebody with botulism is usually good as anti-toxins have proven very successful in treating the condition.

"Botulism is not contagious and cannot be spread through person-to-person contact." The clostridium botulinum toxin is the deadliest naturally occurring poison in the world - just 500 grammes could wipe out every person on the planet.