A British lawyer and Australian teenager have become the fifth and sixth tourists to die following a suspected mass poisoning case in Laos.
Simone White, 28, of Orpington, Kent, became ill after reportedly consuming 'free shots' from a nearby bar in Vang Vieng, a popular tourist town.
In a statement, the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said: “We are supporting the family of a British woman who has died in Laos, and we are in contact with the local authorities.”
Other British people hospitalised following the incident will also receive consular support, according to the FCDO.
The Australian authorities also announced the death of Australian teenager Holly Bowles in a Thai hospital on Friday (November 22). Her friend Bianca Jones, also 19, died one day earlier at the same hospital.
The pair were staying at a hostel in Vang Vieng when they became seriously ill last week.
The families of the Australian women flew to Thailand to be by the teenagers' bedsides after they were transported to a hospital in Bangkok.
“This is every parent’s nightmare and we want to ensure no other family is forced to endure the anguish we are going through,” Ms Jones’s parents told the Herald Sun.
“We hope the authorities can get to the bottom of what happened as soon as possible,” they added.
According to the publication, it is thought the girls were poisoned in a local bar that had previously had connections to the Asian mafia.
The tragic incident also follows the deaths of two Danish women, aged 19 and 20, and an American man, who have also died.
The deaths remain under investigation although early reports suggest that methanol poisoning might have played a part.
In 2022, a 38-year-old British woman, Kirsty McKie, died in Bali — two days after consuming a beverage containing methanol that she believed to be alcoholic.
But what is methanol poisoning and what are the symptoms?
What is methanol?
Methanol, also known as methyl alcohol or wood alcohol, is a highly toxic, colourless, and volatile liquid. It is the simplest alcohol in the chemical group, with the formula CH₃OH. Methanol is commonly used as:
Like ethanol, it is a form of alcohol that is odourless and flammable. While it may smell like ethanol — which is what we consume in alcoholic beverages — the two are not the same. Unlike ethanol, it is not safe for human consumption.
How is methanol toxic?
Professor David Ranson, a professor of forensic medicine at Monash University, told Australia’s ABC News that methanol is a “very, very nasty compound”.
He added: “These compounds actually attack organs of the body and actually kill cells.”
He said when methanol enters the human body, our enzymes turn it into formaldehyde and formic acid, causing toxicity.
How can someone be poisoned with methanol?
Typically, people experience methanol poisoning when the liquid is ingested in drinks.
Often it is illegally added to alcoholic beverages, whereas other times it can be used in drinks instead of ethanol because it is cheaper.
Cases of methanol poisoning have been recorded in several Southeast Asian tourist hotpots including Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia and Bali.
What are the symptoms of methanol poisoning?
Vomiting, abdominal pain and nausea are all common symptoms of methanol poisoning. Others include a loss of coordination and a decreased sense of vision.
Someone who has been exposed to methanol can enter a state of severe metabolic acidosis — meaning too much acid has built up in the body. This can lead to them falling unconscious and even entering a coma.
Can methanol poisoning be fatal?
Yes, methanol poisoning can be fatal if not treated properly. The UK government says, if ingested, four to 10 millilitres of methanol can cause permanent damage (including permanent vision loss) to adults.
The minimal lethal dose is considered to be in the range of 300 to 1,000mg/kg.
How can methanol poisoning be prevented?
Smartraveller, the Australian government’s travel advice service, said tourists should be “alert to the potential risks, particularly with spirit-based drinks including cocktails”.
It said travellers should avoid homemade drinks and drink only at reputable venues.
