Outbreak of Thallium Poisoning Among Iraqi Patients

In 2008, 22 individuals in Baghdad, mainly from the Iraqi Air Force Club, suffered thallium poisoning from contaminated cake, leading to symptoms like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, neurological issues, and severe hair loss. Five male patients aged 10 to 32 experienced diffuse and patchy anagen hair loss, dermatitis-like lesions, peripheral neuropathy, and muscular weakness. One child improved significantly with oral zinc sulfate treatment. The study emphasized the necessity of banning thallium as a rodenticide due to its potential misuse as a chemical weapon.