Authorities in an Australian state have issued a warning about two food products that contain an ingredient found in rat poison after five people fell sick.
Queensland Health and Queensland Police Service are investigating the suspected brodifacoum poisoning cases. Brodifacoum is the active ingredient in rat poison that inhibits Vitamin K, which is essential for blood to clot. It can cause bleeding-related complications if ingested by humans.
Queensland Health has issued an alert for people to be aware of two unlabeled products available in the Logan community.
They are homemade capsicum and chili paste and marinated eggplant containing capsicum and chili paste.
Three of five sick people had consumed these homemade foods, and product samples have tested positive for brodifacoum.
Dispose of affected products
The items may have been purchased or gifted in the Logan area from mid-September. If people have these products at home, the advice is to throw them away. Do not dispose of them in the garden as animals could eat the products.
Dr. Catherine McDougall, chief health officer, said the community should remain alert.
“No other possible cases of brodifacoum poisoning have been identified since the five individuals were reported last week. The identified products are homemade and do not appear to be widely distributed. It is believed they are available only very locally in the Logan community,” she said.
“We do not believe there is a widespread risk to the broader community however we encourage people in the Logan area to be alert. The investigation remains ongoing, we are continuing to make further enquiries and will keep the community updated.”
If people believe they may have consumed the implicated products or are experiencing bleeding that can’t otherwise be explained, they should visit their local GP, local health center or urgent care clinic for testing.
Brodifacoum poisoning symptoms include bleeding gums, unexplained bruises, blood in urine or stool, and swelling of joints.
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