Seattle ricin threat prompts health advisory
Public Health – Seattle & King County officials have issued a health advisory as a precaution after several gay bars in the Capitol Hill area received letters in which the letter writer threatened to “target clients” with the toxin ricin.
“There is no information at this time suggesting anyone has been exposed to ricin,” Public Health officials add, but as a precaution the department has sent out the alert to help health-care providers recognize the signs and symptoms of ricin poisoning.
According to a news story in The Stranger a letter to one bar manager read: “Your establishment has been targeted, I have in my possession approximately 67 grams of ricin with which I will indiscriminately target at least five of your clients.”
Ricin is a toxin that naturally occurs in castor beans (the source of castor oil), which can be made into a ordorless, tasteless powder, mist or pellet. Ricin can be deadly, and there is no antidote. Treatment consists of supporting patients until they recover.
To learn more:
- Read the alert from Public Health – Seattle & King County below.
- Visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention information page on ricin
- Read the story by Dan Savage in The Stranger.
Health Advisory: Ricin Threat
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ACTION REQUESTED:
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Background: Several gay bars in the Capitol Hill area of Seattle received letters today from a person threatening to “target clients” with the toxin ricin. The incident is under investigation by law enforcement; there is no information at this time suggesting that anyone has been exposed to ricin. The following information is provided as a precaution to help health care providers recognize ricin poisoning in the event of a ricin exposure.
Incubation period: Approximately 4-12 hours following inhalation or ingestion of ricin. Symptom onset is unlikely more than 10 hours after ricin ingestion and more than 24 hours after inhalation exposure.
Symptoms: Systemic effects depend upon route of exposure and exposure dosage. Dermal and ocular exposure by ricin in powder or mist form can cause erythema and pain of the skin and eyes.
Ingestion exposure may result in some or all of the following symptoms: Profuse vomiting, profuse diarrhea (bloody or nonbloody); severe dehydration; weakness; influenza-like symptoms (fever, myalgia, arthralgia); hallucinations; seizures; hematuria; hypotension; hypovolemic shock; multiple system organ failure.
Inhalational exposure may include some or all of the following symptoms: Cough, respiratory distress, bronchoconstriction; pulmonary edema, cyanosis, nausea, excessive diaphoresis, weakness, influenza-like symptoms (fever, myalgia, arthralgia) hypotension, respiratory failure; multisystem organ failure.
Laboratory findings are nonspecific and include: metabolic acidosis, increased liver function tests; increased renal function tests; hematuria; leukocytosis. Public Health can facilitate testing at CDC for urinary ricinine, an alkaloid in the castor bean plant in selected cases.
Treatment: Largely supportive, contact WA Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222.
Please review additional clinical information about ricin from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, available at: www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/ricin/clinicians/index.asp
Category: Poisoning & Environmental Health
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