Two Thai Workers Hospitalized in ICU After Eating Toxic Wild Tobacco Plant in Israel

Two Thai migrant workers in their 40s were admitted to the intensive care unit at Rambam Medical Center last Saturday after suffering severe poisoning from Nicotiana glauca, a wild tobacco plant common in Israel. The men reportedly picked the plant near their residence in a Carmel Coast settlement, prepared a soup from it, and developed poisoning symptoms within hours. One patient remains in critical condition, sedated and on a ventilator due to respiratory distress, while the other has improved and was transferred to an internal medicine ward for further monitoring.

Asnat Aspis, head nurse of the general ICU at Rambam, noted that the patients brought the plant with them to the hospital, which expedited diagnosis and treatment. Dr. Yael Luria, director of the National Poison Information Center at Rambam, explained that Nicotiana glauca is the only wild tobacco species growing naturally in Israel, found throughout the country in open fields, vacant lots, construction sites, and near garbage dumps. The plant contains the toxic compound anabasine, which acts similarly to nicotine and can cause gastrointestinal irritation, excessive salivation, dizziness, headaches, tremors, cardiovascular changes, central nervous system damage, seizures, and loss of consciousness.

Dr. Luria emphasized that poisoning severity depends on the amount ingested, with rare cases resulting in death. There is no specific antidote, so treatment focuses on supporting vital functions until the toxin is cleared from the body. Although such poisonings are rare, previous cases have occurred. She warned the public against picking or consuming unidentified plants and stressed the importance of bringing suspected poisoning agents to emergency departments for proper identification and treatment. In this case, the plant was identified by volunteer botanical experts advising the poison center.