Four people in Bangkok have died from drinking moonshine (home made liquor) contaminated with methanol, with a total of 33 people requiring medical treatment.
The Public Health Ministry is urging anyone who may have consumed the tainted alcohol to seek medical treatment immediately. According to caretaker health minister, Somsak Thepsutin, 33 people have sought treatment for methanol poisoning at Nopparat Rajthannee Hospital since August 19.
Four people have already died and another 8 patients have been discharged. One patient remains in critical condition. 15 patients are on ventilators, 22 have undergone kidney dialysis, and 21 are suffering from blurred vision (and one has gone blind).
Of those being treated, Somsak says 2 of them only came forward three days after consuming the contaminated alcohol. It’s understood they were worried about being arrested for having bought the illegal concoction.
However, as their condition worsened and they began to experience breathing difficulties, they rushed to hospital yesterday morning, August 27.
According to a Nation Thailand report, the spiked liquor was sold at 18 different locations across the 6 Bangkok districts of Minburi, Klong Sam Wa, Lat Krabang, Prawet, Nong Chok, and Khan Na Yao.
The Public Health Ministry says anyone who has consumed it and is experiencing blurred vision or dizziness must seek urgent attention without fearing arrest.
Meanwhile, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration believes the 18 locations that sold the drink purchased it from the same woman. She has been identified only as Jeh Pu. It’s understood she told police that she purchased it from 2 brothers without knowing it had been spiked with methanol.
SOURCE: Nation Thailand
