Scott McPherson's Web Presence

Some general housekeeping issues:

First, that mystery illness in Angola that I referred to last week has been identified by the WHO as bromide poisoning.  The WHO statement can be found at: http://www.who.int/csr/don/2007_11_30/en/index.html . A snippet:

Toxicology laboratories in Munich (Germany) and Birmingham (UK) have detected very high levels of bromide in blood samples of patients. In addition, laboratories in Geneva (Switzerland) and Munich have detected very high levels of sodium bromide (>80%) in table salt samples collected in the households of patients.

These findings provide a clear indication that this outbreak is very likely due to bromide poisoning which occurred through use of table salt highly contaminated with sodium bromide. It is still unknown how the salt samples were contaminated. Additional food samples are currently being analysed to identify any potential secondary source of exposure.

Also, swiftlets have apparently been ruled out in the death of Muhammad Nabih of Indonesia (http://www.scottmcpherson.net/journal/2007/11/14/did-edible-nest-cause-the-death-of-muhammad-nabih.html ).  Ducks are now the suspect.  In response, the swiftlets have retained attorneys and are suing for defamation of character.