In mid-October, a family in Söderhamn fell ill under unclear conditions. The family’s daughter died, the mother and son were in intensive care as a result of a poisoning that baffled the police, healthcare and the family themselves.
– There were many proposals that came up in the group that then tried to solve this. The first thing that came to mind was cyanide, which is extremely toxic, and this looked like cyanide poisoning, but it didn’t quite match that either, says Kai Knudsen, chief physician in intensive care at Sahlgrenska University Hospital.
Over 200 substances
He was brought in as an advisor along with a number of experts from abroad. The research group was led by doctors at the poison center in Stockholm and together they tested over 200 substances to investigate what had befallen the family.
– People thought about thallium or arsenic or severe drug poisoning. But it didn’t match the symptoms and complaints the patients showed, says Kai Knudsen.
New method
Finally, the subject of phosphine came up. Analyzes of phosphine are not normally done in Sweden, so in order to test it, the researchers had to set up a new analysis method to succeed.
– It took a few extra weeks. And that has contributed to the whole process taking longer, says Kai Knudsen.
The topic was successful. But how the family got it or what is behind it is still unclear.
– It is fantastic that you were able to demonstrate this, but there are many question marks that remain, says Kai Knudsen.