RAT POISON OUTBREAK SPREADS: Sixth Victim Identified in Queensland Food Contamination Crisis
- Six people, including one child, infected with rat poison after eating contaminated homemade food in Queensland
- Families in Logan area affected, with victims experiencing bleeding gums, unexplained bruises, and blood in urine or stool
- Queensland Health issues urgent alert, warning of brodifacoum poisoning outbreak linked to homemade food products
In a terrifying turn of events, a sixth person has been identified as a victim of rat poisoning in Queensland, as the number of cases continues to grow in the Logan area. The latest victim is a family member of some of the people already affected, and health authorities are on high alert to prevent further infections.
Five people, including one child, were initially hospitalised last week with symptoms consistent with ingesting brodifacoum, the active ingredient in rat poison. The patients, from three families, were treated for bleeding related symptoms that couldn’t be otherwise explained, including bleeding gums, unexplained bruises, blood in urine or stool, and swelling of joints.
Queensland Health has confirmed that a homemade unlabelled capsicum and chilli paste, a homemade marinated eggplant, and a homemade dough are among the contaminated food products linked to the outbreak. These products were made in a home kitchen and were gifted or purchased locally in the Logan area from mid-September.
In a stark warning, Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr Catherine McDougall said, “While there is believed to be no ongoing risk to the broader community, an updated alert has been issued to clinicians in the Logan area in case there are other people who may have consumed the products and have not yet been identified.”
Dr McDougall reassured the public that all patients are well and improving clinically, and no further cases outside the family clusters have been identified. However, health authorities are urging anyone who believes they may have consumed the contaminated products or are experiencing unexplained bleeding symptoms to seek medical attention immediately.
As the investigation continues, Queensland Health is working to identify the source of the contamination and prevent further incidents. In the meantime, residents in the Logan area are advised to be cautious when consuming homemade food products and to seek medical attention if they experience any unusual symptoms.
Stay tuned for further updates as this story continues to unfold.