Methanol and inaccessible medical care – a lethal combination
Melbourne teenager Bianca Jones died after suspected Laos methanol poisoning.
Photo: Facebook
Six tourists have died of suspected methanol poisoning in Laos, and more are still in hospital. An expert explains why methanol kills, and how to survive.
Surviving methanol poisoning requires getting medical help fast - but getting that care is far from straightforward when you are miles away from a hospital.
Six foreign tourists have died in the past week after consuming drinks containing methanol in Vang Vieng, Laos. Many more were caught up in the incident, including a Kiwi who has since returned home.
Freelance journalist Erin Hale is based in Taiwan, but has spent time in Laos. She says that while there is a clinic in Vang Vieng, she does not think it is equipped to handle a case as ser...
