Ukraine opposition candidate Yushchenko is suffering from a Dioxin intoxication, doctors say
{{byline|date=December 11, 2004|location=VIENNA}}
Doctors from the Rudolfinerhaus clinic in [[Wikipedia:Vienna|Vienna]] say "there is no doubt" Ukrainian opposition leader [[Wikipedia:Victor Yushchenko|Victor Yushchenko]] was poisoned with [[Wikipedia:Dioxin|Dioxin]].

Yushchenko's body had about 1,000 times more than the normal concentration of the toxin. It is unknown if there were any other poisons in his system.

Although it has not yet been proven that the poisoning was deliberate, doctors suspect it was.  "We suspect a cause triggered by a third party," said Michael Zimpfer, head doctor at the Rudolfinerhaus clinic. He suggested the poison may have been administered orally, through food or drink. 

Today's announcements are a follow-up of an earlier press conference, where Dr. Korpan that there were three hypotheses under consideration, one of them involving dioxin. He did not reveal what the other two hypotheses were. Dr. Michael Zimpfer, director of the Rudolfinerhaus clinic emphasized that time there was no proof yet to specify the substance causing the illness. 

Yushchenko left Kiev on Friday (2004-10-12) for further examination in Vienna. 
When Yushchenko fell ill on October 6th, Ukrainian doctors had initially diagnosed food poisoning, leading to speculation that he had been poisoned deliberately. The illness has disfigured Yushchenko's body and face which doctors say could take up to two years to heal.

He fell seriously ill on the September 6th, during his presidential campaign. Yushchenko was taken to the Rudolfinerhaus clinic of Vienna, where he stayed for four days under Dr. Korpan's care. He was diagnosed with "[[w:Acute pancreatitis|acute pancreatitis]], accompanied by [[w:Interstitial|interstitial]] [[w:Edema|edematous]] changes." These symptoms were said to be due to "a serious viral infection and chemical substances which are not normally found in food products" as his campaign officials put it. In laymans terms, he developed an infection in the pancreas and got a bad skin condition that disfigured his face with cysts and lesions. The skin condition has similarities with the [[w:Chloracne|chloracne]] associated with [[w:Dioxin|dioxin]] posioning according to a British toxicologist John Henry. 
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:041124_yushchenko_200.jpg Viktor Yushchenko (left) as he appeared in July 2004 and (right) as he appeared in November after the poisoning{{image|Gleb Garanich/Vasily Fedosenko/Reuters}}]

==References==
* [http://www.nu.nl/news.jsp?n=452689&c=21 nu.nl] (Dutch)
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4088345.stm  BBC News]
*{{source|url=http://www.brabantsdagblad.nl/regioportal/BD/1,1478,15073-DossierOekraine-Dossiers!Buitenland!,00.html|title=Is Viktor Joesjtsjenko vergiftigd?|author=|pub=Brabants Dagblad|date=26 November 2004}}
*{{source|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-1393172,00.html|title=Who poisoned Yushchenko?|author=Jeremy Page|pub=The Times|date=8 December 2004}}
*{{source|url=http://www.nature.com/news/2004/041122/full/041122-8.html|title=Yushchenko's acne points to dioxin poisoning|author=Federica Castellani|pub=Nature.com|date=8 December 2004}}

Earlier, doctor Nikolai Korpan of [http://www.rudolfinerhaus.at/ Rudolfinerhaus clinic] confirmed today that the illness of Ukrainian presidential candidate [[w:Viktor Yushchenko|Viktor Yushchenko]] was caused by an attempt to kill him. 

==See also==

*[[Ukraine political crisis]] - Wikinews' special coverage portal

{{archive}}

[[Category:December 11, 2004]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Ukraine]]
[[Category:Published]]
[[Category:Viktor Yushchenko]]
[[Category:Europe]]

[[de:Juschtschenkos Krankheit war Dioxin-Vergiftung]]
Doctors from the Rudolfinerhaus clinic in Vienna say "there is no doubt" Ukrainian opposition leader Victor Yushchenko was poisoned with Dioxin.

Yushchenko's body had about 1,000 times more than the normal concentration of the toxin. It is unknown if there were any other poisons in his system.

Although it has not yet been proven that the poisoning was deliberate, doctors suspect it was.  "We suspect a cause triggered by a third party," said Michael Zimpfer, head doctor at the Rudolfinerhaus clinic. He suggested the poison may have been administered orally, through food or drink. 

Today's announcements are a follow-up of an earlier press conference, where Dr. Korpan that there were three hypotheses under consideration, one of them involving dioxin. He did not reveal what the other two hypotheses were. Dr. Michael Zimpfer, director of the Rudolfinerhaus clinic emphasized that time there was no proof yet to specify the substance causing the illness. 

Yushchenko left Kiev on Friday (2004-10-12) for further examination in Vienna. 
When Yushchenko fell ill on October 6th, Ukrainian doctors had initially diagnosed food poisoning, leading to speculation that he had been poisoned deliberately. The illness has disfigured Yushchenko's body and face which doctors say could take up to two years to heal.

He fell seriously ill on the September 6th, during his presidential campaign. Yushchenko was taken to the Rudolfinerhaus clinic of Vienna, where he stayed for four days under Dr. Korpan's care. He was diagnosed with "acute pancreatitis, accompanied by interstitial edematous changes." These symptoms were said to be due to "a serious viral infection and chemical substances which are not normally found in food products" as his campaign officials put it. In laymans terms, he developed an infection in the pancreas and got a bad skin condition that disfigured his face with cysts and lesions. The skin condition has similarities with the chloracne associated with dioxin posioning according to a British toxicologist John Henry. 
* Viktor Yushchenko (left) as he appeared in July 2004 and (right) as he appeared in November after the poisoning

Earlier, doctor Nikolai Korpan of  Rudolfinerhaus clinic confirmed today that the illness of Ukrainian presidential candidate Viktor Yushchenko was caused by an attempt to kill him.
December 11, 2004 Politics and conflicts Ukraine Published Viktor Yushchenko Europe