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Ricin Discovered in Texas Dormitory
Yahoo News & AP ^ | February 25, 2006

Posted on 02/25/2006 4:48:19 AM PST by genefromjersey

Edited on 02/25/2006 5:53:54 AM PST by Admin Moderator. [history]

Updated story from Yahoo News & AP:

Ricin Discovered in Texas Dormitory

AUSTIN - A University of Texas student found a substance that has tested positive for ricin, a potentially deadly poison, in a roll of quarters she was using to do laundry in her dormitory, officials said.

The student and her roommate were being treated for potential exposure to the poison, although neither has exhibited symptoms, said Dr. Theresa Spalding of UT Student Health Services.

The student told university police she found the chunky powder Thursday as she was doing her laundry at the Moore-Hill dormitory, Spalding said. Preliminary tests for ricin came back positive Friday.

"We were very concerned as soon as we heard about the positive testing late this evening," Spalding said. She said the quarters had been in the students' dorm room for several months.

Ricin is extracted from castor beans and can be added to food or water, injected or sprayed as an aerosol. It can be in the form of a powder, mist, pellet, or it can be dissolved in water or weak acid.

Symptoms can include anything from difficulty breathing, fever, cough, nausea and sweating to severe vomiting and dehydration.

The dorm was sanitized and inspected, and students were cleared to return, the university said.

Ricin Discovered in Texas Dormitory

____

AUSTIN - A substance discovered by a student in a University of Texas dormitory has tested positive for ricin, a potentially deadly poison, officials said.

The chunky powder was found at the Moore-Hill dormitory Thursday and reported to university police, officials said. Tests for ricin came back positive Friday. Officials don't know where it came from, said campus police spokeswoman Rhonda Weldon.


TOPICS: Anthrax Scare; Breaking News; Crime/Corruption; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: campus; ricin; texas; university
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1 posted on 02/25/2006 4:48:20 AM PST by genefromjersey
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To: genefromjersey

The article leaves lots of unanswered questions. Was it found in a dorm room..or say, in the kitchen? What kind of container was it in? Was there a lot of it, or simply traces?

And of course, the million dollar un-pc question...are there any ME students living in the dorm?


2 posted on 02/25/2006 4:52:38 AM PST by SE Mom (God Bless those who serve..)
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To: SE Mom
CNN report moments ago the powder fell out of a wrapped roll of quarters from an out-of-state bank as the roll was being opened.
3 posted on 02/25/2006 4:55:04 AM PST by CaptSkip
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To: CaptSkip

Whaaat? Ok, this is getting weird.


4 posted on 02/25/2006 4:57:27 AM PST by Recovering Ex-hippie (Google would sell out America to the highest bidder!)
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To: CaptSkip

Yikes!


5 posted on 02/25/2006 4:57:57 AM PST by tiredoflaundry (I'll admit it , I'm a Snow Flake !(Snoq) The rest of my tagline redacted by court order.)
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To: genefromjersey

6 posted on 02/25/2006 4:58:33 AM PST by edpc
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To: genefromjersey; butternut_squash_bisque

damn, they put a screw top lid on this story

I doubt I need wonder why


7 posted on 02/25/2006 4:58:40 AM PST by sure_fine (*not one to over kill the thought process*)
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To: Shermy; TrebleRebel; cgk

ping


8 posted on 02/25/2006 4:58:51 AM PST by Battle Axe (Repent for the coming of the Lord is nigh!)
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To: genefromjersey


Ricin is relatively easy to produce


9 posted on 02/25/2006 4:59:46 AM PST by Para-Ord.45
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To: SE Mom

One report I saw on TV is that no ilnesses have been reported.


10 posted on 02/25/2006 5:00:23 AM PST by Dane ( anyone who believes hillary would do something to stop illegal immigration is believing gibberish)
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To: Recovering Ex-hippie

Terrorists/jerks could put ricin powder into rolls of coins...deposit at a bank along with other currency/checks...and let it travel.


11 posted on 02/25/2006 5:00:56 AM PST by CaptSkip
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To: genefromjersey

Ricin is extremely prone to false positives because it's very similar to a lot of various food items; the famous "jar of Ricin in a Paris subway" turned out to be wheat germ, for example.


12 posted on 02/25/2006 5:01:28 AM PST by Strategerist
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To: Para-Ord.45
Ricin has to be processed into a fine powder for inhalation to be effective as a poison? Correct?
13 posted on 02/25/2006 5:05:46 AM PST by CaptSkip
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To: CaptSkip

Ok? How do they know it was an out of state bank?

Coin from the fed. comes wrapped in clear plastic wrappers, no numbers etc. of where it came from.

The only coin I am aware of that comes in marked wrappers is the kind you get at the bank. The kind tellers hand out to customers. Customers then wrap the coin and either spend the roll somewhere or return to a bank to turn it in. The bank requires some sort of name or account number on the wrapper, in the event the whole roll is slugs it can debit the account. If it's handed back out to another customer the information is blacked out. If the rolls are returned to the fed, they are broken open and rewrapped in those nasty plastic wrappers.

Another CNN ignorant statement in my opinion.


14 posted on 02/25/2006 5:06:09 AM PST by EBH (Islam is not a religion, it is a Theocracy. The sooner ya'll understand that the better.)
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To: genefromjersey
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/ricin/facts.asp


What ricin is

Where ricin is found and how it is used

How you could be exposed to ricin

How ricin works

Signs and symptoms of ricin exposure

How ricin poisoning is treated

Because no antidote exists for ricin, the most important factor is avoiding ricin exposure in the first place. If exposure cannot be avoided, the most important factor is then getting the ricin off or out of the body as quickly as possible. Ricin poisoning is treated by giving victims supportive medical care to minimize the effects of the poisoning. The types of supportive medical care would depend on several factors, such as the route by which victims were poisoned (that is, whether poisoning was by inhalation, ingestion, or skin or eye exposure). Care could include such measures as helping victims breathe, giving them intravenous fluids (fluids given through a needle inserted into a vein), giving them medications to treat conditions such as seizure and low blood pressure, flushing their stomachs with activated charcoal (if the ricin has been very recently ingested), or washing out their eyes with water if their eyes are irritated.

How you can know whether you have been exposed to ricin

How you can protect yourself, and what to do if you are exposed to ricin

How you can get more information about ricin

You can contact one of the following:


15 posted on 02/25/2006 5:09:48 AM PST by CarrotAndStick (The articles posted by me needn't necessarily reflect my opinion.)
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To: EBH

Most recent mention of ricin being found in US--in Brandermill, Virginia, near Richmond:

Ricin Investigation At Chesterfield Home
Feb 17, 2006, 02:47 PM CST

8 News was the first on the scene of a ricin investigation at a Chesterfield County home. Authorities say a foreign national was making ricin at his house in Brandermill. Authorities tell us there was no terrorism involved, they say the suspect planned to poison his wife.

Chesterfield police tell us it started last December when they got a tip that the resident here, 24 year old Chetanand Kumar Sewraz, a citizen from the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius here on a student visa, was involved in internet fraud.

Chesterfield Police Major Warner Williams said, "during that time we uncovered a plot on the part of the suspect to murder his wife and we believe the plot involved the use of him manufacturing and attempting to use ricin in the murder plot."

Police tell us they don't know what caused the animosity between Sewraz and his estranged wife. But in December, she was arrested for domestic assault and threatened to bomb a structure or vehicle. Weeks later, Sewraz was arrested for allegedly holding her against her will and domestic assault. Sewraz has been in jail since his arrest in January, his wife is out on bond.

Police tell us its been over the last few weeks they discovered evidence that Sewraz was making ricin, but they emphasize they do not think this is terrorism. Police also tell us they do not think any one in the neighborhood has been exposed to the poison.

Police tell us Sewraz is also facing federal charges in Florida for possessing a destructive device or bomb, following an investigation by the ATF.


16 posted on 02/25/2006 5:10:43 AM PST by Rte66
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To: EBH
The student reported that he opened the roll of coins...noticed the lumpy powder...immediately washed his hands...and notified authorities. This happened on thur.
17 posted on 02/25/2006 5:14:31 AM PST by CaptSkip
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To: genefromjersey; CarrotAndStick

Thanks for posting; thanks. BTTT!


18 posted on 02/25/2006 5:16:23 AM PST by PGalt
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To: EBH
Ok? How do they know it was an out of state bank?

It must have been in an old-school wrapper with bank info printed on it...I'm guessing here.
19 posted on 02/25/2006 5:17:54 AM PST by CaptSkip
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To: edpc

Oh, that one is SO good! I used to work for Seed Savers, and people would absolutely FREAK OUT that we sold Castor Beans. You know, people DO eat them; they're common food in India. Thomas Jefferson grew and ate them, which may explain a few things, LOL! You just have to know how to cook them properly (lots of soaking and rinsing needed.)

However, I'll pass...hope they get to the bottom of this case, quickly!


20 posted on 02/25/2006 5:19:50 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (Save The Earth. It's The Only Planet With Chocolate.)
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