Exposed to Ricin– bad luck.
February 29th, 2008
CNN is reporting that a man was exposed to ricin in a Las Vegas hotel room- how unlucky can you get?
A man who stayed in a Las Vegas hotel room where ricin was found is in critical condition at a hospital, where he has been since mid-February, said a Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department official.
Deputy Chief Kathy Suey said the man called for medical help on February 14, saying he was suffering from respiratory distress, and was transported to the hospital.
A friend or relative of his who came to remove his belongings from the room found the ricin Thursday, Suey said.
Police don’t suspect foul play in the poisoning, CNN affiliate KLAS-TV in Las Vegas reported. The FBI said it was treating the case as a criminal investigation and terrorism was not suspected.
Tests confirm the substance found in the room was ricin, police said, but it remains a mystery how it got there.
“We don’t know who [the ricin] belongs to or why it would be here at this time,” said police Capt. Joe Lombardo.
As little as 500 micrograms of the toxin — an amount the size of the head of a pin — can kill an adult.
Well, that’s unpleasant.
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