Woman hospitalized over mad honey poisoning

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health announced on Monday that they are investigating a case of mad honey poisoning as a woman was hospitalized after consuming homemade honey.

The 65-year-old patient developed vomiting, confusion, hypotension, and bradycardia around one hour after she consumed homemade honey that was brought to Hong Kong by a friend from India on Sunday (Nov 12).

She was taken to the accident and emergency department of Queen Elizabeth Hospital on the same day, while the clinical diagnosis was mad honey poisoning.

She was admitted for treatment and remains in stable condition. 

The poisoning is believed to have been caused by grayanotoxin, a neurotoxin that is found in plants and could affect nerves and muscles.

Symptoms of poisoning include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, weakness, excessive perspiration, hypersalivation and paraesthesia shortly after ingestion. 

The government spokesman urged the public to buy honey from a reliable source or apiary, discard honey with a bitter or weird taste, and keep in mind where the honey originates.