Mystery rat poison outbreak leaves Queensland families facing weeks of treatment

Queensland health investigation continues as five people, including children, remain hospitalised after being poisoned with brodifacoum, a potent rat poison that can cause deadly bleeding.

The source remains unknown, leaving the community on edge and highlighting the serious risks of this commonly used household chemical.

The victims, who are all from the same geographical area, presented to hospitals with symptoms consistent with brodifacoum poisoning, including bleeding gums, easy bruising, and blood in their urine or stool.

While Queensland’s Chief Health Officer, Catherine McDougall, confirmed ‘five individuals presented in the last week with symptoms consistent with brodifacoum poisoning’ and noted ‘thankfully, all are fine and receiving treatment’, the reality is far more concerning than it initially appears.

What makes brodifacoum so dangerous

Brodifacoum is sometimes referred to as a 'super-warfarin' because it is longer acting than the drug Warfarin, which is commonly prescribed to prevent blood clots. Unlike regular warfarin, brodifacoum has an especially long half-life in the body, which ranges up to nine months, requiring prolonged treatment with antidotal vitamin K.

Brodifacoum reduces Vitamin K in the body which leads to decreased blood clotting ability. If clotting ability is reduced significantly, bleeding can occur. The symptoms can be subtle at first, but symptoms may not appear until several days after exposure due to brodifacoum's delayed onset of action.

The long road to recovery

For families facing this crisis, the treatment journey is daunting. The antidote for proven poisoning is vitamin K, but as brodifacoum is a long-acting anticoagulant, treatment may be needed for some weeks.

In severe cases, poisoning has led to prolonged periods of anticoagulation, often weeks and in some cases up to six months or longer, with the median duration of treatment being 140 days.

This extended treatment period means regular hospital visits, constant monitoring, and significant medical costs—particularly challenging for older Australians on fixed incomes.

Why the investigation is taking time

While community frustration grows over the unnamed source, Queensland's food safety system follows strict protocols.

The Food Act 2006 is the main food safety legislation in Queensland, designed to ensure food for sale is safe and suitable for human consumption and to prevent misleading conduct in relation to the sale of food.

Despite speculation that patients ingested the poison via contaminated products served at a fast food outlet in Logan, health authorities are still working to determine the source of the poisoning.

Health Minister Tim Nicholls explained the careful approach: 'If someone's done something wrong, then they will know about it, but if they've done something wrong, we have to prove it, and we have to make sure that we've got the evidence to do it.'

The broader context in Queensland

This incident occurs against a backdrop of Queensland's ongoing battle with rodent plagues.

More mice than usual were reported around cropping properties in the Maranoa, Downs, Macintyre and Burnett regions between January and April 2025, after a big winter-crop harvest left more feed in paddocks. This increased rodent activity often leads to heavier use of rodenticides in both rural and urban areas.

Brodifacoum products are ubiquitous throughout Australian households and available in most hardware and grocery stores. During the first quarter of 2020, brodifacoum was the most common toxin that the Animal Poisons Centre was called about.

Protecting yourself and your family

While the investigation continues, there are practical steps you can take:

Health authorities emphasise there is 'nothing for the community to be alarmed about at this time' and encourage anyone with concerns about their health to 'see their doctor, present to the emergency department or contact 13 43 25'.

The Queensland community deserves answers, but the methodical investigation process serves to protect public health and ensure accurate information. As this story develops, the focus remains on supporting the affected families through their long recovery process and preventing future incidents.