Learnings from Separate Aconitum Poisonings in British Columbia and Ontario, Canada in 2022
2025
Lorraine McIntyre | Stefanie Georgopoulos | Dorianna Simone | Emily Newhouse | JoAnne Fernandes | David A. McVea | Arnold Fok | Ania-Maria McIntyre | Bryn Shurmer | Marie-Claude Gagnon | Michael Chan | Marina Chiaravalloti | Nikita Saha Turna | Debra Kent | Dennis Leong | Katherine Paphitis | Christina Lee | the Outbreak Investigation Teams the Outbreak Investigation Teams
Background: Three aconitine poisoning events occurred in two Canadian provinces in 2022: one in British Columbia (BC) and two in Ontario (ON). Aconitine is a potent alkaloid found in several species of the plant Aconitum, containing cardiotoxins and neurotoxins. It is used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for pain management, and in powdered form, Aconitum is similar in appearance to sand ginger (Kaempferia galanga), which can lead to poisonings from misidentification and mislabeling. Methods: Aconitine poisoning is rare in Canada: here, we compare communications, collaborations, laboratory testing options and actions during investigations. Results: Fourteen cases occurred from the consumption of sand ginger: in BC (n = 2), purchased at an Asian health food store: in ON (n = 11), Kaempferia galanga powder (KGP) spices were used to prepare meals at a restaurant, and in one ON case, KGP was purchased. Traceback found product imported from China contained aconitine levels ranging from 1304 to 5500 ppm. Later investigations revealed mislabeling of Aconitum as KGP from the same imported lot (January 2020). Plant DNA testing found no KGP in any spice packets, including lots not linked to illness, suggestive of adulteration. Conclusion: Method development for aconitine in BC led to an improved response time for testing in ON. BC and ON updated outbreak response protocols and communications.
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