Via the Dallas Morning News: Ricin found in UT dorm

A substance found by a University of Texas student at a dorm has tested positive for ricin, a potentially deadly poison, officials said.

Two students were receiving medical attention for potential exposure, although neither has exhibited symptoms, said Dr. Theresa Spalding of UT Student Health Services.

The chunky powder was found by one of them at the Moore-Hill dormitory Thursday afternoon and reported to university police. Preliminary tests came back positive for ricin Friday.

Insane.

It is unclear if this is one of those “preliminary tests” that often end up being wrong, or if the test is conclusive.

From a local TV station:

A student and her roommate at the University of Texas are being treated for potential exposure to ricin.

One of the girls found a substance that’s tested positive for the potentially deadly poison in a roll of quarters she was using to do her laundry at her dorm. Officials said the quarters had been in the students’ dorm room for several months.

She told university police that she found the chunky powder on Thursday, and preliminary tests for ricin returned positive Friday.

A doctor at the university says neither person being treated has shown symptoms, which can include anything from difficulty breathing, fever, cough, nausea and sweating to severe vomiting and dehydration.