Doctors’ group warns of methanol poisoning this holiday season

A doctors’ group has warned the public about the risk of methanol poisoning this holiday season.

According to Medicins Sans Frontiers (MSF), methanol poisoning has long been a well-known issue across South East Asia, particularly in Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam, and in the Philippines.

Flavorless and colorless, methanol is hard to detect in drinks and victims typically do not experience symptoms of poisoning right away.

Methanol is a toxic alcohol used industrially as a solvent, pesticide, and alternative fuel source, according to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Most methanol poisonings occur from drinking beverages contaminated with methanol or from drinking methanol-containing products.

“Ang pag-inom nito, sinasadya man o hindi, ang kontaminasyon ng mga inumin, at ang iresponsable o hindi lisensyadong paggawa ng alkohol ay kadalasang nauuwi sa pagkalasong sanhi ng methanol (Its consumption, whether intentional or not, the contamination of beverages, and the irresponsible or unlicensed production of alcohol often lead to methanol poisoning),” the MSF noted.

It can take up to 24 hours for victims to start showing signs of illness, which include nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. These symptoms can escalate into hyperventilation and breathing problems.

If left untreated, the MSF said fatality rates are often reported to be between 20 percent and 40 percent, depending on the concentration of methanol and the amount consumed.

But, if poisoning is diagnosed quickly—ideally within the first 30 hours—treatment can reduce some of the worse effects.

Global problem

The MSF said methanol poisoning is a global problem, with 71 percent of its outbreaks occur in Asia, most of them in Southeast Asia.

It said that the most common source of methanol poisoning in Indonesia is a type of alcohol that is illegally produced, known as "arak"—a liquor made from coconut flowers, rice, and sugar cane. It can be bought in unlicensed bottle shops or liquor stores.

The common name for this alcohol in Indonesia is Miras Oplosan or just Oplosan.

Since 2017, journalists in Indonesia have reported over 200 cases of methanol poisoning in the country. However, the total number of confirmed or suspected cases of methanol poisoning is estimated to exceed 1,100, with more than 700 fatalities.

Meanwhile, the MSF also raised concerns about methanol poisoning in the Philippines, particularly from the the consumption of unregistered lambanog or coconut vodka.

Several deaths still occur each year from methanod poisoning after drinking unregistered lambanog, according to the Food and Drug Administration which also earlier warned against the consumption of the unregistered alcoholic beverage.

In December 2019, at least 23 people died and more than 300 were treated after drinking moonshine lambanog in Laguna and Quezon.

Prevention

To prevent methanol poisoning, MSF recommended buying alcoholic beverages from reputable brands and legitimate manufacturers.

It also advised consumers to check seals and labels and to avoid alcohol sold by unlicensed vendors, as it may be counterfeit or produced without sufficient precautions.

Moreover, MSF warned against purchasing alcohol priced unusually low as “they may not be legally produced.”