Source of rat bait poisoning identified as sixth person affected

Friday, 31 October 2025 12:35

A sixth case of rat bait poisoning has been identified in Queensland as authorities say they have now confirmed all cases are linked to a common food source.

Five people from Logan, including a child, were hospitalised earlier this month with symptoms consistent with having ingested brodifacoum, a common ingredient in rat poison.

A sixth case has now been identified within the same family cluster.

A homemade, unlabelled capsicum and chilli paste, a homemade marinated eggplant containing a capsicum and chilli paste and a homemade dough have now been linked to all six cases, Queensland Health has confirmed.

The products were made in a home kitchen and were gifted or puchased in the Logan community from mid-September.

All six people exposed to the brodifacoum are well and receiving treatment at home, Queensland Health reports.

An alert has been put out to clinicians in the Logan area in case there are people yet to present with symptoms.

"We are pleased that a food source link has been identified between all three families in the cluster and all patients are well and improving clinically," Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr Catherine McDougall said.

"It is reassuring that no further cases outside the family clusters have been identified, and we are confident that the products are not being currently made or distributed."

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.

If people believe they may have consumed the products or are experiencing unexplained bleeding, they should visit their local GP or health clinic or call 13 HEALTH.

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