Accidental Outbreak of Non-Bacterial Food Poisoning

Troops deployed in isolated garrisons face erratic supply of rations. At times they resort to use of locally grown plants without knowledge of local flora, resulting in accidental food poisoning.

This is a descriptive, analytical and epidemiological study of one such outbreak of food poisoning, due to use of a locally grown plant as vegetable, amongst soldiers of a unit in high altitude. An epidemiological case sheet was made and food specific attack rates of those exposed and not exposed were calculated to identify the food item. The toxicological analysis of food item established the cause.

Of the 39 people who consumed the meal, 29 fell ill with an attack rate of 74.35%. All the cases presented with classical features of atropine poisoning and were managed with sedatives, physostigmine and supportive care. Twenty one had symptoms severe enough to warrant hospitalization. All the cases made complete recovery. The attack rate for food item containing plant poison was 96.4%. The toxicological analysis of food sample established the presence of atropine alkaloids. The plant was identified on flowering as Atropa acuminata.

An outbreak of non-bacterial food poisoning in soldiers at high altitude, caused by accidental ingestion of a dish made out of Atropa acuminata plant leaves containing atropine related alkaloids was investigated and conclusively established.