CO Poisoning Officially Confirmed

Chief of the State Forensic Examinations Department of the Georgian Justice Ministry Levan Samkharauli announced on February 4 that Zurab Zhvania and Raul Usupov died as a result of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.

?The contents of carboxihemoglobin [COHb] in the blood of Zurab Zhvania amounted to 60.6%, while in the blood of Raul Usupov ? 73.9%. As a result of this we can now say for sure that the death was a result of CO poisoning. But as the case involves high-level official we deemed it necessary to carry out further examinations, which will take 10 more days,? Samkharauli said at a news conference. He did not answer reporters? questions.

The signs and symptoms of CO poisoning appear when COHb concentrations exceed 10%.