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Queensland police are working with health officials to investigate the source of a poisoning incident after five Logan residents from three separate families were hospitalised from ingesting rat bait last week.
Health minister Tim Nicholls said while police were now involved in investigations, the contamination has been contained and was not a continued threat to public safety.
Queensland Health Minister Tim Nicholls and Chief Health Officer Dr Catherine McDougall update media on efforts to locate the source of a rat poisoning incident that hospitalised five Logan residents last week.Credit: Courtney Kruk
“At this stage, the cluster remains confined to five patients, and those five patients are in three families, and it involves one child,” he said.
“Those five people are receiving proper and good care, and they are all at home and recovering well.”
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Nicholls said the Queensland Police Service would assist health authorities to trace the source of the poisoning and dismissed suggestions the incident had already been linked to any specific take-away business.
“Currently, there is no indication ... that the current outbreak has anything to do with any fast food or takeaway outlet,” he said.
Queensland police said it was notified on the weekend of a potential contamination incident in Logan and said police “are working in partnership with health officials to gather information, with the view of conducting an investigation”.
Chief Health Officer Dr Catherine McDougall said the police involvement did not mean the incident was being deemed suspicious, but said it was important to consider all options.
“If we had been able to identify a source within the first 48 hours then clearly there wouldn’t be a requirement for police now,” McDougall said.
“We want to make sure that we’re actually exploring all options. Police will do work, and we’ll do health work.”
Patients presented to hospitals on Brisbane’s south side, including Logan Hospital, Queensland Children’s Hospital and Princess Alexandra Hospital, between October 12 and 17.
At least one presented with haematuria – blood in the urine – while another presented with a swollen joint.
While no new patients had come forward since Friday, McDougal urged people to remain alert to symptoms of brodifacoum poisoning.
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These include unusual bleeding from the gums, bladder or nose, bruising, and the swelling of the joints.
Current efforts to locate the source of the poisoning have included interviewing the patients involved to understand where they’ve been, where they’ve eaten and any connection between the three families, who are not known to each other.
McDougall said health authorities will also attend homes to review and test pantry and household items.
“This investigation is ongoing … [and] we expect that this will keep going over the next few days,” she said.
“If anything is identified, we’ll be sure to make the public aware.”
Anyone with concerns about their health should see their doctor, present to the emergency department or contact 13 43 25.
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