In Laos, six travelers are believed to have died from methanol poisoning. This is where such incidents are most common.

This month, in the tourist town of Vang Vieng, Laos, six individuals are believed to have perished from methanol poisoning.

The group of five travelers, consisting of two Australians, two Danes, a Brit, and an American, are suspected to have ingested alcohol laced with methanol, a substance often used to reduce the cost of regular or homemade alcohol.

Fourteen individuals fell ill after a night out in Vang Vieng around November 12th. One of these travelers has since returned home to New Zealand, as reported by local news sources.

While ethanol, the alcohol typically found in beverages like beer, wine, and spirits, is more expensive than methanol, the latter is a dangerous substance that can cause blindness with as little as 10 milliliters and death with 30 milliliters.

The fact sheet published by the organization states that methanol poisoning is a global public health issue that receives insufficient attention.

Over the past two years, there have been 943 incidents that have resulted in the poisoning of over 39,000 people and the death of approximately 12,900 individuals.

The problem of methanol poisoning is worsened by a lack of understanding about it among both the public and the medical communities, particularly in areas where outbreaks are common, according to the organization.

Where incidents are the highest

According to Doctors Without Borders, most cases of methanol poisoning occur in Asia.

The website by Doctors Without Borders reports that many foreign tourists have been poisoned by methanol after drinking incorrectly distilled "arak" in Bali, Lombok, and Gili Islands.

In July, five students were poisoned after mixing tainted liquor with energy drinks, three of whom later died, according to the website. In September, several people were poisoned by methanol in Indonesia after consuming alcohol ordered off the internet, it states.

The Facebook page "Just Don't Drink Spirits in Bali" recommends consuming beer, cider, wine, and duty-free alcohol bought upon arrival, but cautions against cocktails and shots.

"Colin Ahaern, the page's creator, warned that if someone pours a drink from a bottle of mixed spirits behind the bar, there is a possibility of methanol poisoning. He advised caution, stating that Bali, while beautiful, has its own dangers."

Countries where the most people have been poisoned

Over the past five years, Iran has had the highest number of methanol poisonings, as reported by Doctors Without Borders.

In April 2020, following the declaration of Covid-19 as a pandemic, over 5,800 individuals in Iran were poisoned by methanol in a mass incident that resulted in the deaths of approximately 800 people, according to Doctors Without Borders. The organization reports that many individuals mistakenly believed that consuming the alcohol would eliminate the Covid virus.

Doctors Without Borders advises travelers to be cautious about consuming alcohol in unlicensed settings and to avoid drinking from unlabeled containers.

Methanol poisoning can cause symptoms such as vertigo, rapid heartbeat, blurry vision, and blindness, which are not common with food poisoning and hangovers. However, many outbreaks and poisonings go undiagnosed due to symptoms that mirror those of food poisoning and hangovers, such as vomiting and drowsiness.