Six foreign tourists have died of suspected methanol poisoning in Laos, Southeast Asia. What is the substance and how does it affect the body?

The NHS warns that as little as 4ml of methanol can cause hallucinations and blindness. Half an hour to two hours after consuming methanol symptoms include drowsiness, confusion and irritability. Later symptoms include dizziness, vomiting, severe abdominal pain and diarrhoea.

A U.S. citizen and at least four other tourists from Australia, Denmark and Britain died in Laos this month after having drinks possibly spiked with methanol.

At least six tourists who traveled to Laos have died in recent days, prompting international alarm about the dangers of consuming alcoholic drinks that contain methanol.

Two Australian teenagers and a British woman have died from suspected methanol poisoning after drinking tainted alcohol in Laos

Australian teenager Holly Bowles has become the sixth foreign tourist to die from suspected methanol poisoning in Laos. The 19-year-old died more than a week after falling ill in the tourist town of Vang Vieng,

A second young Australian tourist died in a Thai hospital on Friday, bringing the death toll related to suspected methanol poisoning during a night out in a Laos backpacker hotspot

Six tourists, including Australians and a British woman, died in Laos, likely from methanol poisoning. The U.S. State Department warns travelers about this risk. The Laos government is investigating the incident and expressed condolences to the victims' families.