Exclusive: There are fears multiple takeaway orders in south-east Queensland have been contaminated with rat poison after five people showed up sick at different hospitals.
Queensland Health has started an investigation after patients presented to hospitals in the Metro South region, including Logan and Princess Alexandra, in the past week.
An internal safety alert issued by Chief Health Officer Dr Catherine McDougall to staff confirmed there has been a cluster of rat poison detections in patients.
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Clinicians have been urged to monitor patients with bleeding-related symptoms that cannot be otherwise explained.
It is suspected that the patients ingested the poison via contaminated products served at a fast food outlet in Logan.
McDougall told 9News the department is working to determine the source of the poisoning.
Rat poison reduces vitamin K in the body, which decreases a person's ability to clot blood and can be very serious in some cases.
All five patients who turned up sick at hospitals are receiving treatment and are expected to be okay.
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