Update of an Outbreak of Severe Bleeding Cases / Synthetic Cannabinoid Use

As I wrote about the other day, there was a mass outbreak of severe bleeding cases associated with synthetic cannabinoid use in Illinois during March. As of March 29, there were 22 reports of vitamin K dependent severe coagulopathy.

Five days later and there have been 56 affected individuals. Symptoms include coughing up blood, blood in the urine, severe bloody nose, and/or bleeding gums. Nine people have tested positive for the vitamin K antagonist Brodifacoum (see my last post for explanation of its effects). Two people have died.

Three people have been arrested in Chicago in connection to selling some herbal incense/potpourri products that (according to police) have detectable amounts of Brodifacoum.

Dump your product if you have any.

Stay safe out there.


References

Bleeding and Coagulopathy Associated with Synthetic Cannabinoid Products
https://dosemakespoison.blogspot.com/2018/03/bleeding-and-coagulopathy-associated.html

Second Death of An Individual Who Used Synthetic Cannabinoids
http://www.dph.illinois.gov/news/second-death-individual-who-used-synthetic-cannabinoids
Accessed April 3, 2018.

3 Chicago Store Clerks Charged With Selling Synthetic Pot Laced With Rat Poison
http://abcnews.go.com/US/chicago-store-clerks-charged-selling-synthetic-pot-laced/story?id=54197525
Accessed April 3, 2018.