Mass Poisoning Event - Laos * Two Australian teens among 6 dead
- Thread starter Kurve
- Start date
- Tagged users None
TubbsFarquhar
TheBrownDog
Sadly, Holly has also passed away 
.
www.google.com
.Second Melbourne teen Holly Bowles dies in Laos from suspected methanol poisoning, bringing death toll to six
Holly Bowles, 19, has died in a Thailand hospital from methanol poisoning linked to Laos, which also claimed the life of her friend, Bianca Jones.
www.google.com
It seems odd that it's all females. What a nightmare. RIP.
- Feb 8, 2023
- 448
- 1,379
- AFL Club
- Geelong
Advertise that all women get a free cocktail (or two) on arrival or even drink free
Young women flock to the place and the males follow them.
Males pay full price, and the bar managers use cheaper no brand name non drinking alcohol (methanol) for the free drinks
Simple greed
Except that's untrue because those free drinks are offered to everyone as anyone who's been to said areas will attest to
- May 11, 2015
- 1,010
- 3,207
- AFL Club
- Fremantle
- Other Teams
- Ipswich Town FC, Leeds Rhinos
I read an article on a uk media website earlier (one of those that died was a young female British lawyer) that apparently there is a relationship between the harm methanol can cause and the physical size and stature of the person who consumes it. Smaller women tend to be more likely to die from methanol poisoning than more bulky men.
- Aug 15, 2014
- 11,466
- 24,138
- AFL Club
- Western Bulldogs
- Other Teams
- Chicago Bulls
Exactly. This is not a targeted attack.
It’s no different to alcohol or other substances affecting females greater than males purely because of size & weight (in a general nature).
Irma
Spectator
- Dec 2, 2021
- 261
- 656
- AFL Club
- Hawthorn
According to the ABC the American who passed away was a male.
Irma
Spectator
- Dec 2, 2021
- 261
- 656
- AFL Club
- Hawthorn
This from The Guardian:
“Other British tourists are among those being treated in hospital after allegedly being served alcoholic drinks containing deadly methanol. Reports suggest as many as six British nationals have required treatment.”
“New Zealand’s foreign ministry said one of its citizens was unwell in Laos and could be a victim of methanol poisoning.”
www.theguardian.com
Hopefully they’re all improving and will pull through okay.
“Other British tourists are among those being treated in hospital after allegedly being served alcoholic drinks containing deadly methanol. Reports suggest as many as six British nationals have required treatment.”
“New Zealand’s foreign ministry said one of its citizens was unwell in Laos and could be a victim of methanol poisoning.”
British lawyer among six to die in suspected methanol poisoning in Laos
As well as Simone White, two Danes, an American and two Australians have died after incident in town popular with backpackers
Hopefully they’re all improving and will pull through okay.
rdhopkins2
Carpe Diem
Tragic. You just don’t know what’s in your drinks; especially at a backpackers bar.
Pamcake1
RZSS Graymalkin Wrangling
- Dec 11, 2019
- 6,894
- 13,334
- AFL Club
- Carlton
- Other Teams
- RZ Surf School & Chewton Tigers
Quoted from an article in todays NYTimes:
When it appears in alcoholic drinks it is usually as an accidental byproduct of the distillation process when people make bootleg or home-brew liquor, said Dr. Maryann Amirshahi, medical director of the National Capital Poison Center in Washington, D.C. Mass poisonings have been reported in places where people make their own liquor because it’s cheaper than store-bought liquor or where alcohol sales are restricted by the government.
The Methanol Institute, a trade group, said that methanol had also been used to make cheap, counterfeit drinks because it is less expensive than ethyl alcohol, or ethanol — the alcohol in beer, wine and spirits.
When people drink methanol, the body turns it into highly toxic formic acid, which can lead to organ failure, blindness and death. Dr. Amirshahi said people might initially believe they are drunk or hung over, which makes early treatment difficult.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the symptoms of methanol poisoning can take an hour to 72 hours to develop, and may include confusion, headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting and the inability to coordinate muscle movement.
Dr. Christine Stork, a clinical toxicologist and former clinical director of the Upstate New York Poison Center in Syracuse, N.Y., said that as little as one or two ounces of methanol could be fatal.
Dr. Amirshahi called it “a very significant toxin.”
“You don’t need a lot to get really sick,” she said. “And even if you don’t die if you drink methanol, you can have very serious outcomes.”
The U.S. Embassy in Laos urged Americans to buy alcoholic beverages and drinks from licensed liquor stores, bars and hotels and to avoid homemade alcoholic drinks. It also recommended checking liquor bottles for signs of tampering or counterfeiting, such as labels with poor print quality or incorrect spelling.
Dr. Stork said that methanol poisoning could be treated with an antidote called fomepizole and with hemodialysis, which filters a patient’s blood. But Dr. Amirshahi said that such treatments might be hard to find in some countries or remote areas without easy access to medical facilities.
........................"
"................
Methyl alcohol, or methanol, is a clear liquid chemical used in many products, including windshield washer fluid, antifreeze and paint thinner.When it appears in alcoholic drinks it is usually as an accidental byproduct of the distillation process when people make bootleg or home-brew liquor, said Dr. Maryann Amirshahi, medical director of the National Capital Poison Center in Washington, D.C. Mass poisonings have been reported in places where people make their own liquor because it’s cheaper than store-bought liquor or where alcohol sales are restricted by the government.
The Methanol Institute, a trade group, said that methanol had also been used to make cheap, counterfeit drinks because it is less expensive than ethyl alcohol, or ethanol — the alcohol in beer, wine and spirits.
When people drink methanol, the body turns it into highly toxic formic acid, which can lead to organ failure, blindness and death. Dr. Amirshahi said people might initially believe they are drunk or hung over, which makes early treatment difficult.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the symptoms of methanol poisoning can take an hour to 72 hours to develop, and may include confusion, headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting and the inability to coordinate muscle movement.
Dr. Christine Stork, a clinical toxicologist and former clinical director of the Upstate New York Poison Center in Syracuse, N.Y., said that as little as one or two ounces of methanol could be fatal.
Dr. Amirshahi called it “a very significant toxin.”
“You don’t need a lot to get really sick,” she said. “And even if you don’t die if you drink methanol, you can have very serious outcomes.”
..........
People cannot usually smell or taste methanol in their drinks, often because it is mixed with ethyl alcohol, Dr. Amirshahi said. But there are several precautions that people could take to reduce the risk of poisoning, experts said. Dr. Stork recommended that travelers in Laos avoid hard liquor altogether.The U.S. Embassy in Laos urged Americans to buy alcoholic beverages and drinks from licensed liquor stores, bars and hotels and to avoid homemade alcoholic drinks. It also recommended checking liquor bottles for signs of tampering or counterfeiting, such as labels with poor print quality or incorrect spelling.
Dr. Stork said that methanol poisoning could be treated with an antidote called fomepizole and with hemodialysis, which filters a patient’s blood. But Dr. Amirshahi said that such treatments might be hard to find in some countries or remote areas without easy access to medical facilities.
........................"
Chicken Treat
Senior List
Yep went to these nightclubs frequently when I was in Nanjing 15 years ago. I wondered why I never got hangovers - wasn't real alcohol. Thankfully I never got any serious side effects.
As far as the incidents in Laos is concerned, one country crossed off my bucket list for the time being. Scary stuff for a man who loves to head out to bars on travels still.
rdhopkins2
Carpe Diem
I haven’t heard of it happening in Australia (not saying it hasn’t though). Bali / Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Philippines, PNG it’s probably more likely though. That said, you have to be ever so desperately unlucky.
- Jul 13, 2015
- 38,629
- 43,771
- AFL Club
- Hawthorn
I was in Cambodia in 2017. We didnt drink the home made stuff because of the risk but freely drank everything else across the entire country.
Friend of mine's GF in Vietnam drank home made vodka and was violently ill for days. She was warned off it (everyone else drank brand booze) but she chose to try it anyway. Didnt even have a lot.
Sounds like now they are open to doctoring anything. Cant be good for business though.
- Apr 23, 2016
- 35,071
- 50,657
- AFL Club
- Essendon
8 men have been detained in Laos:
www.abc.net.au
Eight men detained over suspected Laos methanol poisoning that killed six backpackers
Laos police have detained eight men over a suspected methanol poisoning that killed six backpackers, including two Australians.
www.abc.net.au
It wouldn't be something I would be that keen on (drinking homemade alcohol in a developing country) but I still appreciate the fact that generally speaking it's a small risk that anything genuinely harmful will come from it. Especially speaking relatively with all the risk taking that people (especially young tourists in SE Asia) will be partaking in.
It's a reminder to tourists travelling in these regions that while less regulation and oversight can enable a (much) cheaper night out experience, the trade off is that you need to maintain a level of risk-aversion, or else you can leave yourself open to inexplicable events like this. I haven't backpacked SE Asia but I've done plenty across Europe, and methanol poisoning was never on my radar. I suspect I'm not the only one - I have friends currently backpacking in this region who have just been given a bit of a rude shock and will be definitely sticking to beer.
