China Poison Case - Hundreds Dead -- Other Locations Poisoned

South China Morning Post ^ | 9-16-02

[M. T. Cicero II]

I think that we need a rally were we can laugh at the Chinese dead and dying. It would really piss them off!

(Unfortunalty, I think that we are the kind of people who wouldn't do that sort of thing, based on the understandable pity and compassion which we tend to have. Makes us weak in the propaganda war.)

[kinghorse]

Nice Kitty.

[KineticKitty]

China has been dealing with their overpopulation issues in various ways. Now this mysterious outbreak.....

No not at all, I am just suggesting that if someone's is going to hint or blame the Chinese government of doing this because of over population, that it makes no sense for the Chinese government to reduce a population of over 1 billion, by poisoning a few hundred.

[KineticKitty]

You might get a different impression out of my #47 post if you read the post I was responding to first.(#19)

[vetvetdoug]

One could eliminate the warfarin and brodifacoum forms of rat poison, they take time to tie up the vitamin K1 clotting factors and result in death days later from bleeding. The other major rat poison used in the US would cause seizures in a toxic situation. Zinc phosphide poisoning symptoms are consistant with those described along with the rapid mortality. Sodium flouride and ethylene glycol are also possibilities. Arsenicals and heavy metals have symptoms that are consistant with those described. Strychnine, organophosphates, carbamates, and neurotoxins can be eliminated from the descriptions.

IMHO and personal experience, the agent most likely would be zinc phosphide.

[bonesmccoy]

What's the mechanism of action of zinc phosphide?

Coumadin analogues create signs and symptoms consistent with the news story (interference with the natural coagulation cascade).

Your point about seizures is a good one, but perhaps the media is not saavy to such things. What arguments were floated to eliminate the other tickets.

[vetvetdoug]

Zn3P2 causes vomiting, severe abdominal pain, bloat, hyperesthesia, and in the last agonal moments, convulsions. As the poison is digested there is more phosphine released and the only treatment is NaHco3 orally. Strichnyne, OP, Carbamates kill by convulsions (cholinesterase inhibitors). Coumadin analogues do not show toxicity for at least 24-48 hours, this poison acted within hours.

We need a little more information to identify the culprit but bets are on NaF or Zn3P2.

[vetvetdoug]

Another article that was published by the Sun in England cited the toxin as KCN. That is not a common rat poison in the US by any means. Being a CN would explain the sudden onset of symptoms.

[Shermy]

Update:

Man Confesses to China Rat Poison Case - State TV

[Dog Gone]

Shermy's link says that the poison was Du Shu Qiang, made with tetramine.

[philetus]

It's happening all over the world mitch

[tallhappy]

Confessions announced by the ChiComs aren't worth much.

[Paulus Invictus]

Do these poisonings indicate more radical Chicom population control methods?

[tallhappy]

Do these poisonings indicate more radical Chicom population control methods?

I don't think that. What it does mean is hard to say.

Talk is because a number of those dead were soldiers it may have been an attack of some sort.

I really doubt the shopkeeper story. It could be, but it is such SOP for the ChiComs in major crimes that can't be hidden.

Chinese press (outside China of course) are also talking about the political ramifications. They are saying this hurts Hu Jintao because his contingent are the authorities in this area.