British lawyer is fifth person to die in suspected methanol poisoning in Laos

A British attorney has been identified as the fifth victim of a suspected mass poisoning from methanol in Laos.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) announced that it is providing assistance to the family of 28-year-old Simone White, who is from Orpington in Kent.

Several British tourists are receiving medical care in a hospital after reportedly consuming alcoholic beverages that contained toxic methanol in a well-known backpacking destination in Laos. It's been reported that up to six British citizens have needed treatment.

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) stated: "We are offering support to British citizens and their families and are communicating with local officials regarding an event that occurred in Laos."

White worked as an attorney at the international law firm Squire Patton Boggs, focusing on various commercial issues as well as both contentious and non-contentious matters related to intellectual property law, as stated on the firm's website.

A 19-year-old Australian teen, an American, and two Danish tourists, aged 19 and 20, have also lost their lives following the event in Vang Vieng, a town that is well-known among backpackers looking for fun and adventure activities.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced in Parliament that a 19-year-old woman named Bianca Jones from Melbourne has passed away. She was evacuated from Vang Vieng and taken to a hospital in Thailand for medical care.

Thai officials stated that Jones passed away due to “swelling of the brain caused by elevated methanol levels detected in her body.”

Her friend Holly Bowles, who is also 19, is still in the hospital in Thailand. They were both at a hostel in Vang Vieng. The Australian government mentioned that "several foreign nationals" have also suffered from methanol poisoning.

The U.S. State Department confirmed that an American had passed away, while Denmark's foreign ministry reported that two of its nationals had also died in "the situation in Laos." However, neither department explicitly connected these deaths to the methanol poisoning that claimed Jones's life.

New Zealand's foreign ministry reported that a citizen in Laos is experiencing health issues and may have suffered from methanol poisoning.

In contrast to ethanol, the primary ingredient in alcoholic beverages, methanol is harmful to people. This situation has brought attention to the risks of methanol poisoning in Southeast Asia, where it is common practice to produce homemade liquor using materials like rice and sugarcane, often mixed with methanol as a more affordable substitute for ethanol.

Officials in Laos are looking into the situation. Samples were sent to Thailand for confirmation, according to Prof. Knut Erik Hovda, who is a consultant for Médecins Sans Frontières on a project aimed at addressing methanol poisoning.

Hovda stated that considering the symptoms and backgrounds of the individuals who were taken to Thailand for medical care, it is highly probable that they were poisoned with methanol.

"As soon as you see a significant number of people consuming alcohol and falling ill with symptoms appearing after a specific period, you can suspect methanol contamination unless proven otherwise," he stated. "In my opinion, this situation is definitely linked to methanol."

According to data from MSF, Asia experiences the highest rates of methanol poisoning in the world, with reported cases occurring in countries such as Indonesia, India, Cambodia, Vietnam, and the Philippines.

Alastair Hay, a professor specializing in environmental toxicology at the University of Leeds, pointed out that the danger posed by methanol poisoning comes from two main sources.

"When methanol is processed in the body, it turns into formaldehyde and then into formic acid. This formic acid disrupts the acid/base balance in the blood, and one of the first noticeable effects is on a person's breathing," he explained. "It can also impact various other organs, with the kidneys being particularly affected. The imbalance in acid/base levels and the impaired breathing will eventually take a toll on the heart, leading to its failure."

“Formaldehyde can harm the nerves, especially the optic nerve, which could lead to blindness. The treatment for methanol poisoning may involve dialysis to filter it out of the bloodstream, while also giving ethanol to keep the person slightly intoxicated. If the poisoning is not too serious—something that can only be confirmed through blood tests—ethanol on its own might be enough for treatment.”