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Health retreat responds to woman's suspected mushroom poisoning death

The alternative health centre where Rachael Dixon died after consuming a drink allegedly containing <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/woman-dies-after-suspected-mushroom-poisoning-at-health-retreat" target="_blank" rel="noopener">poisonous mushrooms</a> have issued a public statement on the incident. The 53-year-old and her friends took part in a holistic wellness retreat at Soul Barn Creative Wellbeing Centre when Dixon fell ill on Saturday night after <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, 'system-ui', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji'; font-size: 16px;">she allegedly crushed up mushrooms<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, 'system-ui', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji'; font-size: 16px;"> and consumed them in a drink. While her two friends were rushed to hospital and released a few days later, Dixon went into cardiac arrest, and despite best efforts by paramedics, she died at the scene just after 12am. Soul Barn, a self-described “creative wellbeing centre” specialising in holistic and alternative practices issued a statement on Thursday saying they were devastated by the incident. They also claimed that the event on Saturday that Dixon attended was not run by the centre or facilitated by any of its staff. “Soul Barn hires out workshop (spaces) to external businesses and facilitators,” they said. “The event which took place on April 13 was a private event, and those facilitating the event do not work for or represent Soul Barn in any way. “None of our regular therapists staff or facilitators were present at any point during this event. “We share the shock and devastation of everyone involved, and our hearts are with those families affected.” The health centre will remain closed while police investigate Dixon's death and a report is being prepared for the coroner. Image: 7NEWS

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Woman dies after suspected mushroom poisoning at health retreat

A 53-year-old woman has died and two others have been rushed to hospital after allegedly ingesting poisonous mushrooms while at a holistic wellness retreat. Rachael Dixon became violently ill on Saturday night after she allegedly crushed up mushrooms and consumed them in a drink. Dixon and her two friends were at the Soul Barn Creative Wellbeing Centre, an "alternative health retreat" in Clunes, near Ballarat, when the incident occurred. An ambulance was called after reports she was in cardiac arrest and not breathing, and despite best efforts by paramedics, she died at the scene just after 12am. Her two friend were also rushed to hospital, but were released days later. Police are investigating her sudden death, and are expected to look into if the drink contained 'magic' mushrooms, which contain the hallucinogenic chemical psilocybin. Dixon's son Matthew paid tribute to his mother on Facebook, writing, "To the most loving, most caring person I've ever known can't thank you enough for everything you ever did for me and all the support you gave me." "Words can't begin to describe how much I will miss you, wish I could give you one last hug." Soul Barn has remained closed since the incident as local business owners and residents said the incident was "confronting" and "devastating". The death comes after Victorian authorities warned residents earlier this month that poisonous mushrooms were growing across the state. “Unless you are an expert, do not pick and eat wild mushrooms in Victoria,” acting chief health officer Evelyn Wong said. “There is no home test available to distinguish safe and edible mushrooms from poisonous mushrooms.” Image credits: Facebook

Caring

Past charges against mushroom poisoning suspect uncovered

Erin Patterson, the woman under investigation for allegedly cooking the deadly mushroom meal that claimed the lives of three people, has previously faced a series of charges after being involved in a drunk-driving incident. According to reports from The Australian, the 49-year-old was convicted in 2004 of driving drunk in an unregistered vehicle. Court records have revealed that Patterson, who was then known as Erin Trudi Scutter and was aged 29, faced legal consequences for her reckless actions, losing her license for 30 months after crashing her vehicle in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne while heavily intoxicated. The reports revealed that after the crash, she fled from authorities by speeding away from the crash scene, reaching 95 km/h in a 60 km/h zone. The convictions that were handed down were for charges of failing to stop a vehicle after an accident, failing to provide identifying information after causing property damage, using an unregistered vehicle on a highway, failing to provide information after property damage, and driving at 95 km/h in a restricted 60 km/h zone. At the time of the crash, Erin's blood alcohol level was 0.14 per cent, indicating significant impairment, however the charges of drink driving were dropped, potentially due to overlapping elements in other charges. Patterson has yet to comment on the previous charges, after being advised by her lawyer not to make any public comments as she remains under investigation for the deadly mushroom meal. She has <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/details-of-erin-patterson-s-police-statement-around-fatal-mushroom-meal-revealed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">denied any wrongdoing</a> in the mushroom incident, although according to police, they are investigating Patterson because she was the only adult among five who did not either die or suffer severe illness after ingesting the deadly mushrooms. Image credits: A Current Affair

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New details emerge in fatal mushroom poisoning incident

The former spouse of the Victorian woman responsible for preparing a meal for three individuals who tragically passed away, was placed in a medically induced coma last year following an unexpected severe digestive ailment. The revelation surfaces as <a href="https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/forensic-tests-on-food-dehydrator-found-at-tip-after-mushroom-deaths-20230808-p5dusv.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Age Newspaper reports</a> that law enforcement have carried out forensic testing on a dehydrator found at a waste disposal site near Erin Patterson's home in Leongatha, southeast of Melbourne. Investigators are now exploring whether this apparatus was utilised to preserve the mushrooms before being discarded. The Age has additionally gained access to Erin's ex-husband Simon's social media posts, in which he recounts a mysterious severe gastrointestinal illness that nearly claimed his life. "I collapsed at home and subsequently spent 16 days in an induced coma, undergoing three emergency surgeries mainly targeting my small intestine, along with another planned surgical procedure," he wrote. "My family was summoned twice to bid me farewell as my chances of survival were minimal." Within the same social media post, he extended gratitude to Ms. Patterson for her support. Despite their separation, the two maintain an amicable relationship. Patterson, aged 48, cooked the fateful lunch which law enforcement suspect might have contained death cap mushrooms. The mother of two is now under police scrutiny after the demise of her ex-husband Simon Patterson's parents, Gail and Don Patterson, as well as Gail's sister Heather Wilkinson. Heather's husband, Ian, is currently in critical condition at Melbourne's Austin Hospital and is awaiting a liver transplant. All four individuals exhibited symptoms consistent with death cap mushroom poisoning following the lunch, which occurred on July 29. Ms Patterson has consistently <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/i-didn-t-do-anything-i-love-them-woman-who-cooked-meal-with-deadly-mushrooms-speaks-out" target="_blank" rel="noopener">maintained her innocence</a>, expressing that she held strong affection for her in-laws, particularly considering Gail's role as a motherly figure. Police have also characterised the case as intricate and potentially devoid of malicious intent. Death cap mushrooms possess the potential to cause grave damage to the liver and kidneys, leading to fatality. Symptoms include abdominal discomfort vomiting, and nausea, yet much of the harm can transpire before symptoms surface. Ms Patterson herself remained unaffected by the luncheon she organised, and her two children have been taken into protective custody as a preventive measure, according to police statements. Detective Inspector Dean Thomas of the Homicide Squad indicated that authorities are yet to determine whether they are dealing with a potential crime or an unfortunate accident. Images: Facebook / A Current Affair

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6 things a food poisoning expert would never eat

If you want to know how to avoid food poisoning, you better listen to food poisoning expert and lawyer Bill Marler. He’s a products liability and personal injury attorney specialising in food-borne illnesses as well as the managing partner of Marler Clark, dubbed “The Food Safety Law Firm”. With twenty years in the industry, he’s won more than $600 million in compensation claims for his clients since 1998. In an article posted in the <a href="http://www.foodpoisonjournal.com/food-poisoning-information/six-foods-bill-marler-never-eats/#.VrJ3Kvl96uV" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Food Poisoning Journal</a>, Bill has revealed the six foods he refused to eat. Unpasteurised (“raw”) milk and packaged juices Unpasteurised milk, sometimes called “raw” milk, can be contaminated with bacteria, viruses and parasites. Between 1998 and 2011, there were 148 food poisoning outbreaks linked to raw milk and raw milk products in the US—and keep in mind that comparatively few people in the country ever consume these products, so 148 outbreaks is nothing to ignore. As for unpasteurised packaged juices, one of Marler’s earliest cases was the 1996 E. coli outbreak from unpasteurised Odwalla apple juice. As a result, he won’t go near raw milk or juice. “There’s no benefit big enough to take away the risk of drinking products that can be made safe by pasteurisation,” he says. Raw sprouts Uncooked and lightly cooked sprouts have been linked to more than 30 bacterial outbreaks (mostly of salmonella and E. coli) in the US since mid-1990s. As recently as 2014, salmonella from bean sprouts sent 19 people to the hospital. All types of sprouts - including alfalfa, mung bean, clover and radish sprouts - can spread infection, which is caused by bacterial contamination of their seeds. “There have been too many outbreaks to not pay attention to the risk of sprout contamination,” Marler says. “Those are products that I just don’t eat at all.” He did add that he does eat them if they’re cooked. Meat that isn’t well-done Marler orders his burgers well-done. “The reason ground products are more problematic and need to be cooked more thoroughly is that any bacteria that’s on the surface of the meat can be ground inside of it,” Marler says. “If it’s not cooked thoroughly to 160°F throughout, it can cause poisoning by E. coli and salmonella and other bacterial illnesses.” As for steaks, needle tenderising - a common restaurant practice in which the steak is pierced with needles or sliced with knives to break down the muscle fibres and make it more tender - can also transfer bugs from the surface to the interior of the meat. If a restaurant does this (Marler asks), he orders his steak well-done. If the restaurant doesn’t, he’ll opt for medium-well. Prewashed or precut fruits and vegetables “I avoid these like the plague,” Marler says. Why? The more a food is handled and processed, the more likely it is to become tainted. “We’ve gotten so used to the convenience of mass-produced food - bagged salad and boxed salads and precut this and precut that,” Marler says. “Convenience is great but sometimes I think it isn’t worth the risk.” He buys unwashed, uncut produce in small amounts and eats it within three to four days to reduce the risk for listeria, a deadly bug that grows at refrigerator temps. Raw or undercooked eggs You may remember the salmonella epidemic of the 1980s and early ’90s that was linked mainly to eggs. If you swore off raw eggs back then, you might as well stick with it. The most recent salmonella outbreak from eggs, in 2010, caused roughly 2,000 reported cases of illness. “I think the risk of egg contamination is much lower today than it was 20 years ago for salmonella, but I still eat my eggs well-cooked,” Marler says. Raw oysters and other raw shellfish Marler says that raw shellfish - especially oysters - have been causing more foodborne illness lately. He links this to warming waters, which produce more microbial growth. “Oysters are filter feeders, so they pick up everything that’s in the water,” he explains. “If there’s bacteria in the water it’ll get into their system, and if you eat it you could have trouble. I’ve seen a lot more of that over the last five years than I saw in the last 20 years. It’s simply not worth the risk.” Images: Shutterstock

Food & Wine

15 plants that are poisonous to dogs

<h3>Plants and your pup</h3> Plants are having a real moment right now, and for good reason. They add beauty to your home, help you feel more in tune with nature, and they even boast health benefits. Unfortunately, some of the most popular and best indoor plants are toxic to dogs, who don’t know which ones are safe to munch on or play with and which absolutely aren’t. With veterinary help, we’re calling out the most common indoor and outdoor poisonous plants for dogs so you can avoid or get rid of them and replace them with some pup-friendly options. If you suspect that your pup has munched on a poisonous plant for dogs, consult your vet immediately. <h3>Aloe Vera</h3> Toxic components: saponins, anthraquinones Because it’s so easy to maintain and boasts medicinal qualities, aloe vera is a common household plant that people keep both indoors and outdoors. Unfortunately, the gooey gel beloved for its soothing benefits also contains two components that make this plant toxic to dogs when consumed. Typically, signs of ingestion include lethargy and upset stomach, including vomiting and diarrhoea. If you bring this plant into your home, we recommend keeping it high up – like on a sink ledge – so it’s inaccessible. <h3>Golden Pothos (epipremnum aureum)</h3> Toxic component: insoluble calcium oxalates The winding, ivy-like golden pothos (“Devil’s Ivy”) is another poisonous plant for dogs that contains insoluble calcium oxalates – glass-like crystals that can cause severe irritation when eaten. One of the key symptoms is oral itching and irritation, which can sometimes lead to intense burning and pain in and around your pet’s mouth. It can also lead to excessive drooling, vomiting, or difficulty swallowing. <h3>Milk Weed</h3> Toxic components: cardiotoxins, neurotoxins Though it’s a wonderful beacon for some of our favourite insects – including monarch butterflies and tussock moths – milkweed is one of those plants toxic to dogs. Some species contain cardiotoxins that affect a pet’s heart, while others contain neurotoxins that can affect organ function and mental state. As such, this plant should always be kept outdoors and/or out of reach from your dog. When consumed, it can cause severe reactions, including depression, weakness and diarrhoea, followed by more intense reactions such as seizures, breathing difficulty, organ failure and death. <h3>Sago Palm (cycas revoluta)</h3> Toxic component: cycasin The sago palm is leafy, beautiful and very easy to grow, which makes it a popular choice as an indoor plant. However, this plant’s toxic to dogs, so you should definitely keep it out of your house. “If consumed by your dog, the sago palm causes severe vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain, as well as stumbling, tremors, seizures and temperature-regulation issues,” warns veterinarian Christie Long. “Ultimately, it causes liver failure, and death can occur with ingestion of an amount as small as a single seed.” <div class="slide-image" style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #444444; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;"> </div> <h3>Azaleas (rhododendron)</h3> Toxic component: grayantoxin Azaleas are colourful and interesting to look at, so it’s easy to see why your dog might be attracted to them. Unfortunately, all parts of the azalea plant are poisonous to dogs, including the flower, leaves, seeds and even honey that’s made from the nectar. “When azaleas are consumed by your dog, it can result in hypersalivation, vomiting, diarrhoea, muscle weakness, vision problems, slow heart rate (bradycardia), heart arrhythmia and/or low blood pressure (hypotension), cardiovascular collapse, and possible death,” warns vet Shelly Zacharias. <div class="slide-image" style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #444444; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;"> </div> <h3>Tulips (tulipa)</h3> Toxic components: tulipalin A and B Tulips are one of the most popular plants come springtime, but they can cause big problems for curious canines. The flower and stem parts of the plant are toxic, but the bulbs are especially dangerous when consumed. Clinical signs of ingestion include vomiting, diarrhoea, hypersalivation, and even depression. <div class="slide-image" style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #444444; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;"> </div> <h3>Garlic and onion (allium species)</h3> Toxic component: n-propyl disulfide Though it’s easy to assume that all vegetables and herbs found in the garden are perfectly OK for your pup, that’s not always true. The allium species – which includes garlic and onions – are poisonous plants for dogs. “Any plant in the allium family, if ingested in large enough quantities, can cause a severe reaction in the bloodstream called hemolysis, in which red blood cells are destroyed in large numbers,” says Dr. Long. “The results are severe weakness, rapid breathing, and red-coloured urine.” She adds that forced vomiting by a veterinarian is key here, and many dogs will require blood transfusions to replace the blood cells that are damaged in order to survive. <div class="slide-image" style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #444444; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;"> </div> <h3>Dumb cane (diffenbachia)</h3> Toxic components: insoluble calcium oxalates, proteolytic enzyme This stout, leafy tropical indoor low light houseplant may be pretty, but it should be kept out of reach of canines. “This plant contains calcium oxalate crystals, which are similar to microscopic pieces of glass resembling needles,” explains Dr Zacharias. “Chewing or ingesting it causes toxicity. Common symptoms are vomiting, swelling of the mouth and/or throat, severe oral pain, pawing at mouth or eyes, severe skin irritation, agitation, coughing, gagging and hypersalivation.” Simply coming into contact with the plant can cause symptoms, as well. If your dog’s eyes and skin are exposed, flush immediately or give them a bath. <div class="slide-image" style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #444444; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;"> </div> <h3>Elephant’s ear (alocasia)</h3> Toxic component: insoluble calcium oxalates Alocasia – also known as elephant’s ear – is a striking dark green plant commonly found indoors. Like dumb cane, it contains glass-like insoluble oxalate crystals that can cause severe irritation both internally and externally, notes the Pet Poison Hotline. If consumed, an immediate visit to your vet is recommended to monitor and treat symptoms. If your dog’s skin or eyes has become irritated by the plant, a bath and/or flushing the skin and eyes with water is recommended. <div class="slide-image" style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #444444; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;"> </div> <h3>Citrus plants and peels (rutaceae family)</h3> Toxic components: essential oils and psoralens “Many [citrus] plants that produce edible fruit – including grapefruit, oranges and lemons – are toxic if the actual plant portion is ingested. For example, the skin of the fruit, the leaves, or stems can often be dangerous,” says Dr Zacharias. Whether you grow these plants in your yard or bring them into your home from the grocery store, keep your dog away from them. Reactions may not be as severe as with other plants toxic to dogs, but if you suspect consumption, call your vet for guidance. They may request that you bring your dog in, especially if severe symptoms occur. <div class="slide-image" style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #444444; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;"> </div> <h3>Oleander (nerium oleander)</h3> Toxic component: cardiac glycosides Oleander, known for its white or pink flowers and height that provides privacy between yards, is another poisonous plant for dogs. “Oleander ingestion causes extreme salivation, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea and lethargy. In severe cases, it causes liver failure and death, and it can ultimately interfere with the heart’s ability to beat properly,” explains Dr Long. “Once it is known that the dog ingested these poisonous leaves, rapid transfer to a veterinary hospital where vomiting can be induced is key. Supportive therapy with drugs designed to control gastrointestinal signs, as well as reverse liver and heart issues, is key to survival.” <div class="slide-image" style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #444444; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;"> </div> <h3>Snake plants (sansevieria trifasciata)</h3> Toxic component: saponins Because of its striking appearance and the fact that it’s a houseplant that’s very hard to kill, snake plants are found in houses all across the world. Unfortunately, they are also poisonous plants for dogs and can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea if consumed. It’s important to contact your veterinarian right away if you think your dog has ingested any portion of a snake plant. Depending on the severity, you may need to simply monitor and treat your dog’s symptoms, or you may need to take your dog in for more aggressive treatment. <div class="slide-image" style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #444444; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;"> </div> <h3>Morning glory (ipomoea)</h3> Toxic component: indole alkaloids This beautiful vine plant that flowers in the morning may be irresistible to humans – and also to dogs – who might be tempted to chomp on them when they open. “The seeds are most toxic, and canine consumption can cause vomiting, nausea, pupil dilation (mydriasis), hallucinations, incoordination, diarrhoea, anaemia, confusion and liver failure,” notes Dr Zacharias. Go to your veterinarian or an emergency veterinary centre right away if you suspect consumption. Treatment consists of activated charcoal, IV-fluid administration, and ongoing symptomatic support. <div class="slide-image" style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #444444; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;"> </div> <h3>Lily of the valley (convallaria majalis)</h3> Toxic component: cardenolides Lily of the valley is a beloved indoor and outdoor flower, but pet parents should not introduce it to their home or garden since this plant’s toxic to dogs. Known for its delicate white flowers, it is a highly poisonous plant for dogs and can result in vomiting, irregular heartbeat, reduced blood pressure, confusion and disorientation. In severe cases, it can even cause seizures or lead to a coma. Consult your veterinarian immediately for further instruction if you suspect your dog has consumed this plant. <div class="slide-image" style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #444444; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;"> </div> <h3>Yew (taxus)</h3> Toxic component: taxine Yew is an evergreen shrub typically found outdoors. “If ingested, it can cause sudden death, trembling, muscle weakness, trouble breathing, collapse and heart arrhythmia,” says D. Zacharias. “If you suspect your canine has eaten any part of this plant, immediately go to your veterinarian or emergency veterinary centre. Treatment will consist of gastrointestinal decontamination – activated charcoal or possibly gastric lavage or an enema – as well as IV-fluid therapy and supportive therapy for any respiratory or cardiovascular function.” Image: Getty

Home Hints & Tips

Drugs – 4 essential reads on how they’re made, how they work and how context can make poison a medicine

Pandemics and disease outbreaks put a spotlight on the hurdles researchers face to get a drug on the shelves. From finding prospective drug candidates to balancing time and financial pressures with ensuring safety and efficacy, there are many aspects of drug development that determine whether a treatment ever makes it out of the lab. Broadening the definition of “medicine” and where it can be found, however, could help expand the therapeutic options available for both researchers and patients. Here are four facets of how drugs are developed and how they work in the body, drawn from stories in The Conversation’s archive. <h2>1. Matching drug to target</h2> The most effective drugs are, in a sense, the product of good matchmaking – they bind to a specific disease-causing receptor in the body, elicit a desired effect and ideally ignore healthy parts of the body. Drugs <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-do-drugs-know-where-to-go-in-the-body-a-pharmaceutical-scientist-explains-why-some-medications-are-swallowed-while-others-are-injected-182488" target="_blank" rel="noopener">travel through the bloodstream</a> to reach their targets. Because of this, most drugs circulate throughout the body and can bind to unintended sites, potentially causing undesired side effects. Researchers can increase the precision and effectiveness of a drug by designing different ways to take it. An inhaler, for example, delivers a drug directly to the lungs without its having to travel through the rest of the body to get there. Whether patients take drugs as prescribed is also essential to ensuring the right dose gets to where it needs to be often enough to have a desired effect. “Even with all the science that goes into understanding a disease well enough to develop an effective drug, it is often up to the patient to make it all work as designed,” writes pharmaceutical scientist <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Thomas-Anchordoquy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tom Anchordoquy</a> of the University of Colorado Anschutz. <h2>2. Searching for drug candidates</h2> Researchers have discovered a number of drugs by chance, including <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/the-real-story-behind-the-worlds-first-antibiotic" target="_blank" rel="noopener">penicillin</a> for bacterial infections, <a href="https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200928-how-the-first-vaccine-was-born" target="_blank" rel="noopener">vaccines for smallpox</a> and <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/nrcardio.2017.172" target="_blank" rel="noopener">warfarin</a> for blood clots. While serendipity still plays a role in modern drug discovery, most drug developers take a systematic approach. Scientists typically start by identifying a particular molecular target, usually receptors that trigger a specific response in the body. Then, they look for chemical compounds that react with that target. Technology called <a href="https://theconversation.com/discovering-new-drugs-is-a-long-and-expensive-process-chemical-compounds-that-dupe-screening-tools-make-it-even-harder-175972" target="_blank" rel="noopener">high-throughput screening</a> allows researchers to quickly test thousands of potential drug candidates at once. Compounds that match screening criteria advance to further development and refinement. Once optimized for their intended use, compounds go on to safety and efficacy testing in animals and people. One way to ease the search for optimal drug candidates is to work with compounds that are already optimized to work in living beings. <a href="https://theconversation.com/nature-is-the-worlds-original-pharmacy-returning-to-medicines-roots-could-help-fill-drug-discovery-gaps-176963" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Natural products</a>, derived from organisms like microbes, fungi, plants and animals, share similar structures and functions across species. Though not without their own development challenges, they could aid the search for related compounds that work in people. “There are thousands of microorganisms in the ocean left to explore as potential sources of drug candidates, not to mention all the ones on land,” writes medical chemist <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=8_T1ueYAAAAJ&hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ashu Tripathi</a> of the University of Michigan. “In the search for new drugs to combat antibiotic resistance, natural products may still be the way to go.” <h2>3. A drug by any other name may be just as effective</h2> Existing drugs can find a second (or third, fourth and fifth) life through repurposing. Most drugs <a href="https://theconversation.com/many-medications-affect-more-than-one-target-in-the-body-some-drug-designers-are-embracing-the-side-effects-that-had-been-seen-as-a-drawback-184922" target="_blank" rel="noopener">have many functions</a> beyond what researchers originally designed them to do. While this multifunctionality is often the cause of unwanted side effects, sometimes these results are exactly what’s needed to treat a completely unrelated condition. Sildenafil, for example, failed to treat severe chest pain from coronary artery disease, but proved to be potent at inducing erections as Viagra. Similarly, thalidomide, a compound that caused birth defects in thousands of infants around the world as a morning sickness drug, found redemption as a cancer treatment. Because drugs inherently have more than one function in the body, <a href="https://theconversation.com/repurposing-generic-drugs-can-reduce-time-and-cost-to-develop-new-treatments-but-low-profitability-remains-a-barrier-174874" target="_blank" rel="noopener">repurposing existing drugs</a> can help fill a gap where pharmaceutical companies and other developers cannot or will not. <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=iDKZaA4AAAAJ&hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gregory Way</a>, a researcher at the University of Colorado Anschutz, uses artificial intelligence to predict the various effects a drug can have and believes that this lack of specificity is something to explore rather than eliminate. Instead of trying to home in on one specific target, he suggests that scientists “embrace the complexity of biology and try to leverage the multifaceted effects drugs can offer.” <h2>4. Poison as medicine</h2> If so many drugs can have toxic effects in the body, be it through side effects or taking the wrong dose or for the wrong condition, what determines whether a drug is a “medicine” or a “poison”? Biomedical scientists evaluate drugs based on their active ingredient, or a specific compound that has a specific effect in the body. But reducing medicines to just a single molecule ignores another important factor that determines whether a drug is therapeutic – the context in which it is used. Opioids treat intractable pain but can lead to debilitating and lethal addiction when improperly administered. Chemotherapy kills tumors but causes collateral damage to healthy tissues in the process. Another pharmaceutical paradigm, <a href="https://theconversation.com/poison-or-cure-traditional-chinese-medicine-shows-that-context-can-make-all-the-difference-163337" target="_blank" rel="noopener">traditional Chinese medicine</a>, has historically acknowledged the malleability of drugs through the use of poisons as therapeutics. <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=4q0hYSwAAAAJ&hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yan Liu</a>, a medical historian at University of Buffalo who studies this practice, notes that ancient texts did not distinguish between poisons and nonpoisons – rather, Chinese doctors examined drugs based on a continuum of potency, or ability to harm and heal. They used different processing and administration techniques to adjust the potency of poisons. They also took a personalized approach to treatment, aware that each drug works differently based on a number of different individual factors. “The paradox of healing with poisons in traditional Chinese medicine reveals a key message: There is no essential, absolute or unchanging core that characterizes a medicine,” Liu writes. “Instead, the effect of any given drug is always relational – it is contingent on how the drug is used, how it interacts with a particular body and its intended effects.” This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/drugs-4-essential-reads-on-how-theyre-made-how-they-work-and-how-context-can-make-poison-a-medicine-192590" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a> and is a roundup of of articles from The Conversation’s archives. Image: Shutterstock

Books

“You have been warned nicely before”: Neighbours threaten to poison dogs

A Queensland family has been left devastated after a neighbour left an anonymous letter with poisonous treats threatening their dogs if they don’t stop barking. Anthony and Jessica Tuite did not think having pets in their suburban home in Graceville would be an issue until they received a letter. The letter explained to the couple that they have been told “many times” to control their black great dane called Barney and a brown great dane cross ridgeback named Donnie. “If the barking of your dogs does not stop, the chocolate in this envelope will be thrown over your fence in greater amounts ... which will kill them,” it read. “You have been warned nicely many times by people ... but you do nothing.” The letter contained pieces of chocolate which is known to be poisonous and potentially lethal to dogs if consumed. Jessica said she was shocked at the letter and begged that no one hurt her pet dogs. “These dogs are our family .... please, please don’t hurt my dogs,” she told 7News. “They only bark when someone comes into their yard but that’s their job.” Other neighbours rallied with the family saying it is disgusting to leave a threat when they could be working as a community toward a solution. “You just don’t make those threats,” neighbour Phill Keleman said. “You just kind of say ‘Hey listen, how do we work together to make it better?’” Images: 7News

Family & Pets

Food poisoning or stomach bug?

Image: Getty You've been up all night with stomach cramps, diarrhoea and vomiting. You feel rotten and you can't keep anything down. Everyone's got a theory as to what's going on and you no doubt wonder yourself… Was it something you ate? Or have you been struck with the latest horrible tummy virus? It's true that gastroenteritis – an inflammation of the gut usually caused by an infection – can be caused either by something you ate or a viral infection passed from another person, says Dr Jas Saini, a GP in the western suburbs of Sydney. Both scenarios can result in similar symptoms such as fever, stomach cramps, diarrhoea and vomiting. But there are often clues that suggest which problem you're dealing with, Saini says. Typically (but not always) food poisoning starts more dramatically with sudden onset of severe symptoms. But viral gastroenteritis can also cause quite severe abdominal pain, and it can make people just as miserable, Saini says. "It's not always easy to work out the difference and your doctor will ask a series of questions to try to work out the cause." Viral gastro Viral gastroenteritis, caused by bugs like rotavirus and norovirus, tends to peak in winter and spring. It is spread by you coming into contact with surfaces that have been contaminated with human faeces. Symptoms may come on gradually. "Surfaces can become contaminated if you have not washed your hands properly after using the toilet, or got some stool on your hands when wiping and not washed it off properly. You can then pass the virus on when you touch the tap, toilet flush, door handle or other surfaces." "Viruses can be present on surfaces anywhere, including escalators and traffic lights and they can stay around for a period of time." Viral gastro can also be spread through food if people don't wash their hands properly before preparing food. And you can still spread the virus for up to 48 hours after your symptoms have disappeared completely too, Saini says. That's why it's important to wash hands properly after using the toilet and before eating food. Food poisoning On the other hand, food poisoning usually refers to gastro related to eating food that is contaminated with bacteria such as Salmonella, Campylobacter or E.coli. "Whilst exposure to the culprit food may occur hours or weeks before you fall crook, the symptoms of food poisoning tend to be more dramatic and build up much more quickly than those of viral gastroenteritis." "You may experience intense vomiting, high fevers and severe abdominal pain. Severe dry retching may also occur, and people describe the feeling of their gut vigorously squeezing out its toxins. It's also more common to see blood or mucous in your stool with food poisoning," Saini says. "If you do notice blood or mucous, then it's important to go to the doctor to get checked out." "Stool samples are taken if the doctor is uncertain about the diagnosis, there is blood or mucous in the stool, a bacterial infection is suspected, or symptoms have gone on for a long time. Your doctor may also consider stool samples if you have recently returned from overseas, or if she or he feels your immune system is compromised" "Antibiotics may be considered for bacterial infection, although many people can get better without using antibiotics," Saini says. Nailing the culprit If you think you may have food poisoning, particularly from food you have eaten out, tell your doctor, so they can report it to the public health department who can investigate the source of the problem, Saini says. But knowing the source of your food poisoning can be tricky. It's not always the last thing you ate that made you sick – it could be anything you have eaten days, weeks or, in the case of listeria bacteria, even months before. And what you bring up is not necessarily the cause of your illness – it's just what was in your stomach when the symptoms started. But if your whole family all ate the same dish at your local restaurant and all suddenly got violently ill together shortly afterwards, that's a pattern more suggestive of food poisoning. Preventing the spread For viral gastro, preventing its spread through families is actually very difficult. "There's always a bit of guilt," Saini says. "You can be very careful with hygiene and cleaning surfaces but it's very easy for the whole family to affected all at once." What's more the common gastro virus norovirus can travel in air droplets, causing much wider contamination of surfaces, says virus expert Professor Bill Rawlinson. Norovirus can also reach the gut by being inhaled into the back of the throat. "We think it's not a classic aerosol spread like you see with respiratory viruses," says Rawlinson, director of virology at South Eastern Sydney and Illawarra Health Service. You probably need to be in quite close proximity "like a parent cleaning up a child's diarrhoea or vomit". Wearing a mask may be helpful in these circumstances, he says. To prevent gastro from any cause, it's important to: <ul data-component="List"> <li data-component="ListItem">Practice good hand hygiene including always washing your hands with soap and hot water before preparing food, after handling raw food, before eating, after using the bathroom or changing nappies, after working in the garden, or after playing with or feeding pets.</li> <li data-component="ListItem">Store and handle your food safely such as separating raw and ready-to-eat foods, keeping hot food hot (over 60°C) and cold food cold (under 5°C), cooking and reheating foods thoroughly, refrigerating food within two hours of cooking, and thoroughly washing fruit and vegetables.</li> </ul> When to go to the doctor? 'Gastro' can be life threatening in vulnerable people such as babies, pregnant women and elderly people. "That's because they have limited reserves and require more fluids," Saini says. He recommends going to the doctor if you have: <ul data-component="List"> <li data-component="ListItem">vomiting without diarrhoea – this may not be a gastro bug at all and could be another problem such as an ear infection or a urinary tract infection.</li> <li data-component="ListItem">severe stomach pains that are getting worse quickly or came on very suddenly</li> <li data-component="ListItem">blood or mucous in your stool, or stools that are black or very smelly. Black stools may indicate there is bleeding higher up in the gut.</li> <li data-component="ListItem">difficulty passing urine or only passing small amounts of urine</li> <li data-component="ListItem">symptoms that last for more than a few days</li> <li data-component="ListItem">other medical conditions that require careful monitoring, such as diabetes</li> </ul> Take babies to the doctor if they are not tolerating their feeds, they are pale and lethargic or have fewer than four wet nappies in 24 hours.

Body

The festive foliage on the ‘naughty list’ this Christmas

A team of British researchers have put together a guide of the potential dangers associated with popular Christmas plants. The “unsystematic review”, published in the Christmas issue of <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj-2021-066995" target="_blank">The BMJ</a>, saw the team immerse themselves in Christmas culture and conduct informal interviews with friends and colleagues to identify plants associated with the festive season, which they then examined against a database of toxic plants. After conducting additional investigations, the team classified plants as low, moderate, or high risk, depending on whether they could be eaten. Low risk Luckily for traditionalists, the iconic Christmas tree is considered safe to be around. The only hazards have been from a few cases of contact dermatitis from workers who had unusually high exposure to the plant. Ivy is also quite safe, with no recorded cases of people being poisoned by them, and winter plants such as poinsettia and Christmas cactus make the list too. Even the plants featured on the Christmas dinner table have been investigated, with potatoes found to be safe as well. Brussels sprouts, sadly, are also safe to eat. “Looks like you’ll have to endure them after all,” the authors <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/what-of-your-festive-foliage-should-be-on-the-naughty-list" target="_blank">said</a>. <img style="width: 305.5878928987195px; height:500px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7846437/xmas-plants.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/00426e9ef6754246afc9662b6697d606" /> Image: The British Medical Journal. DOI: <a rel="noopener" href="https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj-2021-066995" target="_blank">10.1136/bmj-2021-066995</a> Moderate risk As for plants that require a bit more caution, the authors identified holly - with its berries that can cause stomach upset and drowsiness if eaten in large amounts - as well as rosemary - with reports that a twig perforated a person’s bowel. The authors sounded a note of caution for cinnamon and nutmeg, often found in mulled wine, and discouraged people from taking up the cinnamon challenge (a viral challenge to eat a spoonful of ground cinnamon in under a minute without drinking anything). Nutmeg was noted for causing hallucinations in “remarkably low doses” (less than a tablespoon). High risk Surprisingly, both Christmas wreaths and mistletoe made the team’s high-risk list, meaning that caution around them is advised and they shouldn’t be eaten. Mistletoe contains poisonous proteins called viscoproteins, which can lead to the destruction of cells, and eating it can cause gastrointestinal upset. As for Christmas wreaths, those made with bittersweet (a member of the Nightshade family) and yew can cause abdominal cramps or cardiac dysrhythmia if eaten. In summary, the team recommends taking sensible precautions while handling or consuming plants, both at Christmas time and throughout the year. “We hope that this piece has given you the information necessary to navigate holiday foliage more safely,” they conclude. Image: Getty Images

Home & Garden

"You've been poisoned": Mum's warning over diet pills

Image: A Current Affair Diet pills may be a quick fix but for one Sydney mother, it almost cost her her life. Elizabeth Katerina has been in and out of hospital after consuming Fatburners which she purchased online. The young mum-of-two lost 25kgs in two months from diet pills, the catch being – it almost killed her. “Eight weeks ago, I just wanted to find a quick route, an easier way to lose the baby weight. I just went on Google. I looked on Facebook and Instagram searching different options, like different brands online, just like online shopping,” Ms Katerina said. “I came across 3Action Sports Nutrition and I looked at the reviews and they looked really good.” The 25-year-old ordered the 3Action Sports Nutrition Fatburner pills online, from Belgium. “I took as directed on the bottle. It said “take one capsule after breakfast in the morning and one in the afternoon after food’,” Ms Katerina said. After a week, her health started to deteriorate. “I started getting really bad headaches and feeling really dizzy. Just lightheaded. My stomach started feeling uncomfortable. I was getting diarrhoea everyday nonstop,” Ms Katerina said. On the 10th day, her resting heart rate sky-rocketed, so she called an ambulance. "These Fatburners over stimulated my system to the point where I couldn't walk, I couldn't fall asleep, my heart felt like it was going like brrrrr like this, that's how it felt." At hospital, she said doctors told her she'd been poisoned. "I'm not well. My heart rate is so fast, it was just at almost 150 (beats per minute)," she said. "I'm dizzy, light headed and nauseas. I can't sleep I can't eat. "My heart-rate was like 158 above that average for a human. An adult should be between 80 to 90 beats per minute. Mine was just chilling at 158, even when I was calm. "The doctors at the hospital at Royal North Shore, they said to me 'please throw out those diet pills. Whatever was in those Fatburners, they're not good for you, they've over stimulated your system and you've been poisoned'." Ms Katerina is now seeing a cardiologist, gastroenterologist and taking a cocktail of prescription drugs just to get through the day. She also claims to have contacted 3Action Sports Nutrition to report her reaction and they told her to email them and proceeded to hang up on her. The Belgian based company has blocked her and her family from contacting them on social media. She has left a scathing review on Facebook and 3Action Sports Nutrition no longer ship to Australia. Ms Genevieve Adamo, a senior specialist in poisons information shares “the main concern is products purchased overseas can contain undisclosed ingredients and these can be very dangerous.” “We get at least two calls a week about exposure to these types of products” Ms Adamo said. Products available on international websites are not regulated by the TGA. "So, if you're buying online that just bypasses a whole system of regulation that is put in place," Sydney GP, Dr Brad McKay said. "If you're buying diet pills online there's no guarantee you're going to be getting what's on the box. It is really the wild west when you're ordering things online." He said Fatburners like the ones Ms Katerina used can have products like green tea and caffeine extracts in them, which aren't proven to help with weight loss - but could cost you your liver. It’s been a hard lesson learnt by Ms Katerina, who just wants her normal life back.

Body

Wildlife advocates call for Bunnings to ditch bird-killing poisons

BirdLife Australia, the country’s largest bird conservation group, has called on Bunnings Warehouse to stop the sale of certain poisons used to kill rats and mice, claiming that native birds are being killed after eating the poisoned pests. The group has launched a <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.actforbirds.org/ratpoison" target="_blank">petition</a> imploring Bunnings, the largest hardware chain in Australia and New Zealand, to “Take bird-killing poisons off [their] shelves!” The petition explains that Bunnings controls about half of Australia’s DIY hardware market share, and sells a larger variety of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticide products (also known as SGARs) than any other major outlet. SGARs are the poisons that work most effectively on rodents, and sales of such products have increased dramatically as a result of the plague of mice that swept eastern Australia this year, leaving shelves at stores around the country completely bare. BirdLife Australia says that native birds of prey, including wedge-tailed eagles, southern boobooks and possibly even powerful owls are dying after eating rodents that have been poisoned by SGARs. As the group explains in the petition, there are alternative products that are “just as effective that don't poison our natural foodchains”. SGARs have been restricted for sale in many parts of the world, including the US, Canada, and parts of Europe. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GdAQPiC2dsA" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> SGARs work by causing internal bleeding, but when pests like rats and mice eat bait that has been poisoned, they become poisonous themselves, harming and even killing animals that eat them. BirdLife’s petition states that studies have already shown how southern boobooks and wedge-tailed eagles have been affected by the increased use of SGARs, and they are currently researching the impact on powerful owls. BirdLife argues that first generation anticoagulant rodenticide products have active ingredients like warfarin and work just as well as SGARs, but do not have the same impact on non-target species. In addition, the group recommends snap traps as the most humane option for dealing with pests. A Bunnings spokesperson <a rel="noopener" href="https://7news.com.au/lifestyle/take-your-bird-killing-poisons-off-your-shelves-bird-lovers-call-for-ban-on-popular-buy-at-bunnings-c-4297277" target="_blank">told 7News</a> that it offers many rodent control products that are safe for wildlife, and that it was working with suppliers to help shoppers make informed purchases. “We always respect community feedback and we recently met with BirdLife Australia to understand their views and to explain the steps we are taking to educate customers about rodent control products,” Bunnings general manager, merchandise, Adrian Pearce said. Pearce went on to say that Bunnings understands there are risks associated with the use of SGARs, and that they “proactively promote the safe use of these products and support customers in making informed purchasing decisions.” He added that the retailer offers a range of rodent control products that are not poisonous, including repellers, live catch traps, regular rat traps, and natural bait pellets. Pearce explained Bunnings’ next steps, saying, “In addition, we are creating further training for our team members to help improve their knowledge about this topic. We are also in the process of implementing the separation of first generation and second generation rat poison varieties, along with naturally-derived rodenticides on our shelves to further assist with easier customer product selection. “We will continue to closely follow the advice of the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA), and work with our suppliers to innovate in this area.” Image: Ken Griffiths/Getty Images

Family & Pets

Death cap mushroom warning issued after record number of poisonings

An urgent warning has been issued for Melbourne and regional Victoria after the number of mushroom poisoning incidents doubled across the state. On Wednesday, the health department said a combination of recent rain and "ideal growing conditions" have caused the deadly mushrooms to sprout across the state, particularly the toxic Deathcap and the Yellow Stainer. Multiple poisoning cases required people to be treated in intensive care. Victoria's Poisons Information Centre saw an influx of calls in 2020, due to the combination of the COVID-19 pandemic. There were 426 calls, which was more than double from the last two years. Previously, the mushrooms have sprouted in a number of public areas in the city, including the Domain Gardens and the Botanic Gardens. “Symptoms of poisoning can include violent stomach pains, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea,” Victoria’s Deputy Chief Health Officer Dr Angie Bone said in a statement on Wednesday. “Symptoms may subside after a day or two - but this doesn’t necessarily mean recovery in the case of Death Cap poisoning. “Death can follow within 48 hours from serious liver damage. The Death Cap is extremely toxic and responsible for 90 per cent of all mushroom poisoning deaths.” Both the Deatchcap and Yellow Stainer mushrooms look almost identical to edible mushrooms found at supermarkets. In May 2020, Dr Bone said one elderly person died in hospital after consuming deadly mushrooms. Around eight people were also “severely poisoned” in the space of just a few days.

Body

Heartbroken mum shares warning after son dies of carbon monoxide poisoning

A family day out boating has turned into tragedy for the Free family after her 9-year-old son died of carbon monoxide poisoning. Despite each adult on board having 20+ years of boating experience, the death has come to a shock as the family. Andy spent the day at the rear of the boat and fell unconscious into the lake. His mother, Cassandra Free, had no idea that could happen. “One of the things we hadn’t considered was the long no-wake zone,” Free explained, referring to the area of the lake where boats must maintain slower speeds. “We had no idea it was so dangerous. Prior to that we had been out doing our normal stuff, tubing, wakesurfing.” Wakesurfing is a water sport where a rider trails behind the boat, riding the boat’s wake. "I didn’t know this. No one I know knew this. It’s called open-air carbon monoxide poisoning. Another friend looked into and found that it can also happen on other recreational vehicles like 4-wheelers. Our little Andy, our Dude, was probably slowly dying that afternoon/evening and we didn’t know it. He would’ve been tired. His head would’ve started to hurt. Sounds like too much sun after a long, physically draining day of wakeboarding, wake surfing, and tubing," she shared in a heartbreaking post on <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.facebook.com/cassi.free/posts/10224706671240635" target="_blank" class="editor-rtflink">Facebook</a>. Gasoline powered boats can emit carbon monoxide, and as many boats' generators vent toward the back of the boat, this is how Andy passed away. “Looking back, hindsight is 20/20,” said Free tearfully. “It was not unusual for our kids to be tired and cranky. You’re out in the sun all day,” she said, as the parents initially thought he was tired from the sun. She and her husband Brett are parents to sons Johnathan, 15, and Blake, 13. “We were packing and cleaning up and the kids are groaning that they don’t feel good, just want to take a nap,” she recalled. “My husband got Blake, my middle son, up. “When he tried to get Andy, the boat just rocked and Andy rolled off. My husband, he was like, ‘What the heck?’” Brett and two other men were able to find Andy, but he was unresponsive. “They were able to recover him but he never breathed another breath,” said Free. “They did CPR forever, it seemed before emergency services came. The doctors said there is zero brain activity. Even if they got a single breath, there would have been no quality of life.” She shared a Facebook post outlining her story to raise awareness about death due to carbon monoxide poisoning on boats. “It’s not common knowledge and we are going to have to be more proactive in sharing these stories,” she said. “Somebody is going to have to take a closer look at boat emissions. We post road signs to let people know there might be falling rocks or a sharp curve. But there are no signs to tell people to turn off their boats or warn people of the danger of carbon monoxide.” “Andy was supposed to grow up and save the world,” she said. “He still can. He can never grow up, but he can still save the world. His name will be forever tied to the lives he saved. That has become my mission. To make sure that no mom stands in my shoes.” Photo credits: <a rel="noopener" href="https://7news.com.au/lifestyle/health-wellbeing/mum-shares-warning-after-son-9-dies-of-carbon-monoxide-poisoning-on-boating-holiday-c-1346775" target="_blank" class="editor-rtflink">7News</a>

Travel Trouble

Picture perfect poison: Warning over Melbourne’s bizarre pink lake

Rangers in Melbourne have issued a warning to tourists against going for a swim in the pink lake to achieve the perfect shot for their social media feeds. Melbourne’s new attraction in Westgate Park has people flocking to take photographs of the pink lake, much to the chagrin of rangers. The lake turns pink due to replacing the original saltmarsh that was already there. When levels of the saltmarsh are higher than normal, along with high temperatures, lots of sunlight and a lack of rain, algae grows in the lake. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BxbV7yyH2Pc/" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BxbV7yyH2Pc/" target="_blank">A post shared by 🍒 (@paigekimmorley)</a> on May 13, 2019 at 8:05pm PDT </div> </blockquote> The type of algae grows in the lake produces a red pigment according to <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-02-21/why-does-this-melbourne-lake-turn-pink/10833186">the ABC</a>, which is called beta carotene. This turns the lake pink. The lake is currently pink and is expected to stay this way until later in autumn, where it will return to being blue. This is due to the weather cooling down as well as the increase of rainfall. People have been warned by the park authorities in Victoria to not come into contact with the water. Despite the algae not being harmful to local wildlife, the same can’t be said for humans. “Algae growing in the salt crust at the bottom of the lake produces the red pigment (beta carotene) as part of its photosynthesis process and in response to the extremely high salt levels,” Phil Pegler, manager conservation planning and programs at Parks Victoria,<a href="https://www.heraldsun.com.au/"> told the Herald Sun.</a> “In order to protect the sensitive saltmarsh vegetation around the lake, visitors are urged to obey all signage and any barriers in place. “We recommend people avoid coming into contact with the water as it is very saline (salty) so can cause skin irritation.” However, this shouldn’t stop people from getting out and exploring nature. “Getting out in nature has proven health and wellbeing benefits. As the lake is currently pink, grab the kids and take them down so they can better understand and appreciate how fragile and beautiful our environment is and hopefully take steps to protect it so future generations can also enjoy it,” explained Pelger.

Travel Trouble

Princess Beatrice mourns loss of her dog after it eats poison in Windsor Park

Princess Beatrice is said to be worried sick about the fate of her other four Norfolk Terriers after her beloved dog Orange passed away from eating poison. Orange had returned from a walk in Windsor Great Park and was rushed to the vet’s office for treatment after appearing distressed. After vets were unable to identify the toxin, they said that the five-year-old dog could not be saved. It was after this news that Beatrice decided to have Orange put down last month. A friend confided to <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/8180019/princess-beatrice-royal-terrier-poisoned/" target="_blank">The Sun</a>: “No one seems to know if the poison was a natural substance like a fungi, or if there is a dog-hating maniac on the loose. "Obviously Beatrice is keeping a close eye on her other pets.” In 2017, the Yorks fired their dog walker Amanda Severn over an affair with Andrew’s butler Terry Holdforth. Later that year, Orange went missing for a number of days. The friend said: “It’s hard to believe Orange would have wandered off twice, and been poisoned, if Amanda still had her job. She just hasn’t been replaced." Have you ever encountered poison in public parks whilst walking your pets? Tell us in the comments.

Family & Pets

Can you get food poisoning from your tea towel?

Once upon a time it was the good old chopping board that was the major culprit for bacteria in the kitchen. However, a <a href="http://www.abstractsonline.com/pp8/#!/4623/presentation/15470">new study</a> has cited that the common tea towel is another breeding ground for harmful bacteria in your kitchen. Tests on 100 cloth towels were performed by researchers at the University of Mauritius and collected the data from participants over a month. The disturbing results found 49 out of the 100 samples contained bacterial growth, including E. Coli (Escherichia Coli) and MRSA (Staphylococcus Aureus). The research also found that E. Coli was more likely to generate on damp tea towels that had been left to sit, while MRSA bacteria had higher rates of detection in households with non-vegetarian eaters (meat, poultry, seafood etc). <img width="400" height="300" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7819491/2-tea-towel.jpg" alt="2 Tea Towel"/> Lead author Dr Susheela D. Biranjia-Hurdoyal, a senior lecturer in the Department of Health Sciences at the University of Mauritius, said: “The data indicated that unhygienic practices while handling non-vegetarian food could be common in the kitchen.” It was also found that households comprising of large families and those of a lower socio-economic background were prone to having higher rates of bacteria on their tea towels. “Humid towels and multipurpose usage of kitchen towels should be discouraged,” Dr Biranjia-Hurdoyal added. “Bigger families with children and elderly members should be especially vigilant to hygiene in the kitchen.” Symptoms of food poisoning include severe stomach cramps, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, minor headaches and fever.

Body

Millions of Aussies at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning

Millions of Australians are at risk of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, and with winter just around the corner are being encouraged to check their home appliances. <a href="https://www.9news.com.au/" target="_blank">9news.com.au reports</a> Vanessa Robinson, who lost her two children to CO poisoning in 2010 from an un-serviced gas heater at their rental property, is now doing everything she can to raise awareness about the silent killer lurking in homes across the country. “We just want to help people stay safe and sound within their homes,” she told 9NEWS. “There’s no or very little knowledge about carbon monoxide alarms that you can purchase and place inside your home to give you early warning of carbon monoxide levels.” A recent study of Aussie homes found Victorians most at risk of CO poisoning, and staggeringly found that almost half of homeowners were unaware what carbon monoxide is. CO is difficult to notice, but can prompt symptoms like headaches, nausea and fatigue. “It can just present like a flu kind of illness, or a gastro kind of illness,” Doctor Barbara Robertson <a href="https://www.9news.com.au/" target="_blank">told 9news.com.au</a>. “It happens very quietly, and very insidiously. It can result in very nasty outcomes.” What are your thoughts?

Home & Garden

Queensland restaurant accidentally serves customer poison instead of salt

When a man asked for salt while eating lunch at Top One Chinese Restaurant in Queensland’s Australia Fair shopping centre, he was given something else entirely. Court documents reveal the diner was mistakenly served a shaker filled with caustic soda – the corrosive chemical used in detergents and drain cleaners. After sprinkling the “salt” on his food and then eating it, the man suffered severe acid burns to his mouth, which started blistering and bleeding. According to health officers, several unlabelled tubs containing white substances were found in the restaurant’s kitchen. Terry Moore from the Gold Coast Public Health Unit says the incident should serve as a warning to restaurants around the country. “Poisons such as caustic soda should be appropriately labelled and stored safely,” he told <a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/2017/11/14/19/16/eatery-mistakenly-poisons-diner-who-asked-for-salt" target="_blank">9News</a>. “Staff must also be trained in the safe use and storage of poisons.” The restaurant’s owner, Xiaoxue (Sophia) Sun, pled guilty to the September 2016 incident, receiving a fine of $5,000 and a company fine of $20,000.

Body

12 dangerous plants that might be in your garden

Some of these plants can be left in your garden but it is important to watch young children and pets if they go near these plants. Eating the leaves or flowers of these plants can lead to sickness or worse in some situations. Scroll through the gallery above to see if any of these plants are in your garden. Do you have any of these plants? Let us know in the comments below.

Home & Garden

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