Death toll rises to 6 in Bangkok methanol-laced liquor poisoning
Of the 37 people who reported adverse effects from the herbal liquor, 22 are still hospitalised, seven of whom are on ventilators
The number of people killed from drinking herbal liquor spiked with a composition of methyl alcohol rose by two more to six on Wednesday morning, the Public Health Ministry said.
The Medical Services Department said it had received reports that two more people had died on Wednesday – one in hospital and another at home.
The department said that so far, 37 people have come out to seek medical treatment since the first case was reported on August 19.
As of Wednesday morning, 22 people affected by the bootleg alcohol were still in hospital and nine have been discharged. The department said 11 were being treated at the Nopparat Rajthanee Hospital, one at Lerdsin Hospital, one at Rajvithi Hospital and nine others at private hospitals. Of the patients still in hospital, seven are on ventilators, the department added.
The authorities have been repeatedly calling on people who may have bought and consumed herbal liquor from 18 locations in six districts of Bangkok to immediately seek medical help if they have any adverse symptoms. The districts are Minburi, Klong Sam Wa, Lat Krabang, Prawet, Nong Chok and Khan Na Yao.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration said that vendors of herbal liquor at the 18 locations most likely bought the beverage from same supplier – a woman identified as Jeh Pu or Sister Pu. She has reportedly told police that she bought the booze from two brothers and had no inkling it had been tainted with methanol.
