Several people still 'severely ill' after mass poisoning at Markham, Ont. restaurant
Several people are still severely ill and being treated in intensive care after a mass poisoning at a Markham, Ont. restaurant this weekend, officials say.
York Region’s Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Barry Pakes, shared the new details with CP24 Tuesday morning regarding the mass poisoning at Delight Restaurant & BBQ, which is located at Castlemore Avenue and Markham Road.
“We do suspect that it was something called aconite, which is a toxin that can be found in various herbs or roots, or in particular one flower,” Pakes said, adding that testing is currently underway to confirm their theory.
The region’s top doctor said the toxin can be “accidentally mixed in with other things or intentionally,” but that there is no reason at this time to believe that the suspected poisoning was intentional.
Aconite has the potential to be deadly, and can cause diarrhea, convulsions, or arrhythmias.
On Tuesday afternoon, York Region Public Health released a statement saying "several (people) remain severely ill in hospital, but their condition is improving."
Delight Restaurant & BBQ is now closed and anyone who ate any food from the restaurant -- including dine-in, takeout, or delivery -- on Aug. 27 or Aug. 28, and is experiencing symptoms, is being encouraged to seek medical attention.
- Download our app to get local alerts to your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
Delight Restaurant & BBQ on Markham Rd. can be seen above.
Officials say that the restaurant is co-operating with the investigation and is set to reopen on Wednesday. Records show that the eatery passed a health inspection in May.
Pakes added that the poisoning does look “similar” to other recent events, including an incident in Burnaby, B.C. earlier this year which saw two people attend hospital with heart irregularities following the purchase of sand ginger powder from a local mall.
In a statement to CTV News Toronto, Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino's office said they were aware of the "concerning" situation in Markham.
"We will continue to monitor for further details provided by the police of jurisdiction - the York Regional Police - as well as regional health authorities as the situation unfolds," the statement read.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Most of Canada to receive emergency alert test today
The federal government will test its capacity to issue emergency alerts today, with the exception of Ontario, where the test will take place on May 15.
'A huge difference': These adults born in the '90s partnered with their parents to buy homes in Ontario
An Ontario woman said it would have been impossible to buy a house without her mother – an anecdote that animates the fact that over 17 per cent of Canadian homeowners born in the ‘90s own their property with their parents, according to a new report.
OPINION No reunion between Prince Harry and the King signifies a setback for royal unity
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
Boy Scouts of America is rebranding. Here's why they're now named Scouting America
After more than a century, Boy Scouts of America is rebranding as Scouting America, another major shakeup for an organization that once proudly resisted change.
How Drake and Kendrick Lamar's rap beef escalated within weeks
A long-simmering feud between hip-hop superstars Drake and Kendrick Lamar reached a boiling point in recent days as the pair traded increasingly personal insults on a succession of diss tracks. Here’s a quick overview of what’s behind the ongoing beef.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
Ontario man devastated to learn $150,000 line of credit isn't insured after wife dies
An Ontario man found out that a line of credit he thought was insured actually isn't after his wife of 50 years died.
NEW For their protection, immigrants critical of China and India call for speedy passage of Canada's foreign interference legislation
Canadian immigrants threatened by hostile regimes are urging parliamentarians to quickly pass the 'Countering Foreign Interference Act' so they can feel safe living in their adopted home.
Spanish prosecutors recommend 2nd investigation into Shakira's taxes be thrown out
Spanish state prosecutors recommended Wednesday that an investigating judge shelve a probe into another alleged case of tax fraud by pop star Shakira.