Dr. Barry Pakes, the medical officer of health for the York Region, provided the most recent information regarding the widespread poisoning at Delight Restaurant & BBQ near the intersection of Castlemore Avenue and Markham Road on Tuesday morning.
“We do suspect that it was something called aconite, which is a toxin that can be found in various herbs or roots, or in particular one flower,” Pakes said, adding that testing is currently underway to confirm their theory.
Parkes says, “We do suspect that it was something called aconite, which is a toxin that can be found in various herbs or roots, or in particular one flower,” and there is ongoing testing to support their claim.
The leading physician in the area stated that although the toxin can be “accidentally mixed in with other things or intentionally,” there is currently no evidence to support the theory that the alleged poisoning was intentional.
The potentially fatal effects of aconite include diarrhea, convulsions, and arrhythmias.
Pakes was unable to comment on the health of the patients currently receiving intensive care, other than to say that they are “still quite ill” and that “anyone who goes to the ICU is in pretty life-threatening condition.”
The “good news,” he noted, is that those individuals seem to be “getting better” after being admitted to the hospital.
Delight Restaurant & BBQ is now closed, and anyone who consumed food there on August 27 or August 28 for dine-in, takeout, or delivery and is experiencing symptoms is advised to get medical help.
According to officials, the restaurant is helping with the investigation. As per records, the restaurant was deemed healthy, passing the health inspection in May.
Pakes continued by stating that the situation does appear “similar” to other recent occurrences, such as an incident earlier this year in Burnaby, British Columbia, where two persons visited the hospital with cardiac problems after acquiring sand ginger powder from a neighbourhood mall.
Public Safety Minister, Marco Mendicino’s office says in a statement that they were aware of the “concerning” situation in Markham.
“We will continue to monitor for further details provided by the police of jurisdiction – the York Regional Police – as well as regional health authorities as the situation unfolds,” the statement read.
The statement continues, “we will continue to monitor for further details provided by the police of jurisdiction, the York Regional Police, as well as regional health authorities as the situation unfold.”
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