An anti-toxin that protects against ricin poisoning is to move into production for the first time, after eight years of research.It is the result of eight years of work by researchers at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL).
The anti-toxin can protect against three times the lethal dosage of ricin and can be administered to 24 hours after exposure.
According to security experts, ricin is one of the weapons which could be used in a bio-terror attack.
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« Is the NRA partly responsible for the Fort Hood Shooting? | Main | Send Afarensis Get Well Wishes »
Finally: A Ricin Anti-Toxin
Posted on: November 11, 2009 10:42 AM, by Greg Laden
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Comments
So when is the anti-ricin vaccine coming out?
Posted by: NewEnglandBob | November 11, 2009 12:47 PM
Considering our species' propensity for eating stupidly dangerous stuff, how long before meals of castor beans are introduced into high-class restaurants with a shot of anti-ricin as the dessert course?
Posted by: Jason Thibeault | November 11, 2009 1:24 PM
Who are these security experts?
Ricin is a rubbish weapon for a bio-terror attack. At least it was until the media decided to make everyone scared of it. Ricin was looked at in WWI and not pursued. In the near hundred years since then no one has used it for a mass attack. And that's because there's plenty of better choices.
Posted by: thepoisongarden | November 11, 2009 1:34 PM
It's a pity it doesn't work 30 years post mortem...
Posted by: Daggerstab | November 11, 2009 3:01 PM
@ 4: Georgi Markov was a hot topic when I visited Bulgaria last September. It seems at last the Bulgarians are coming round to admitting their fault in public.
Posted by: davem | November 11, 2009 7:13 PM