Toxic pesticide found in blood samples after 3 die, 12 sickened in aboriginal village

Toxicologists identified highly toxic pesticide in blood samples of eight victims of a food poisoning case that resulted in three deaths and another eight people hospitalized in Taitung County, Wednesday.

According to reports, 12 people in Binmao Village, Jinfeng Township, were sickened after consuming traditional millet dumplings Wednesday night.

According to the investigation so far, the poisoning case began after an 83-year-old woman, named Tseng, prepared the dumplings, which included snails collected from a nearby rice paddy. Tseng became sick shortly after consuming some of the dumplings, and died after being sent to the hospital.

After news of Tseng’s death reached the village, relatives and friends gathered at Tseng’s house for a vigil. Unaware of the cause of Tseng’s death, the villagers consumed the leftover millet dumplings, and prepared soup with some of the snails. Within a few hours, 12 of the villagers became seriously sick and were sent to the hospital.

Three people died, and six people from ages 7 to 66 remained in intensive care yesterday. As of this morning, Friday, September 20, three of the victims, including the 7-year-old, were transferred to the general ward.

A joint team from Taiwan’s Centers for Disease Control and the Food and Drug Administration collected samples of leftover food, and blood and urine samples from the victims. Test results on the food samples showing contamination by the organophosphate chemical “terbufos” were released Thursday.

Tests of blood samples from eight of the victims by National Taiwan University’s Forensic Clinic also showed the presence of terbufos, it was announced at a press briefing today.

Terbufos is a highly toxic pesticide used to control nematodes, snails, and soil pests. Yan Zonghai, director of the Linkou Changgeng Poison Center said that death from organophosphate pesticide poisoning can occur within minutes.

The investigation into the case is ongoing.

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