Matthew

November 2024 and the peace of this waterfront paradise in Van Vieng in Laos was shattered after a methanol poisoning outbreak. Three shots of supposedly alcoholic drinks containing this toxic substance at a hostel in the town claimed the lives of Simone White from the UK and Australians Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones, along with three others.

International headlines brought this hidden issue of methanol poisoning to worldwide attention. But for Rashahi Medical College in the far west of Bangladesh, treating victims is commonplace. The hospital struggles to cope with demand at the best of times. So it was no surprise when eight people were poisoned by methanol in this district, claiming four lives.

International headlines brought this hidden issue of methanol poisoning to worldwide attention. But for Rashahi Medical College in the far west of Bangladesh, treating victims is commonplace. The hospital struggles to cope with demand at the best of times. So it was no surprise when eight people were poisoned by methanol in this district, claiming four lives.

In Muslim countries like Bangladesh, where alcohol is illegal, bootleggers can easily and cheaply get hold of methanol. And there's a huge social stigma associated with methanol, which is why this victim doesn't want to be identified. Sadly, his best friends didn't survive.

In Muslim countries like Bangladesh, where alcohol is illegal, bootleggers can easily and cheaply get hold of methanol. And there's a huge social stigma associated with methanol, which is why this victim doesn't want to be identified. Sadly, his best friends didn't survive.

and believe it or not treating patients with alcohol is the first form of defense by buying doctors extra time as it prevents patients from metabolizing methanol into their system the problem is hospitals in bangladesh are not able to store alcohol or ethanol as it's known medically so doctors have to waste valuable time trying to find it in places like local hotels

and believe it or not treating patients with alcohol is the first form of defense by buying doctors extra time as it prevents patients from metabolizing methanol into their system the problem is hospitals in bangladesh are not able to store alcohol or ethanol as it's known medically so doctors have to waste valuable time trying to find it in places like local hotels

It's something Dr Mohamed Rabid Amin, a distinguished professor of medicine who's now working in the Bangladeshi government's Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, says he's seen firsthand.

It's something Dr Mohamed Rabid Amin, a distinguished professor of medicine who's now working in the Bangladeshi government's Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, says he's seen firsthand.

It normally takes up to 24 hours for symptoms of methanol poisoning to appear. They include stomach pain, vomiting and frequent breathing, known as hyperventilation. Finally, patients are blinded and brain damaged.

It normally takes up to 24 hours for symptoms of methanol poisoning to appear. They include stomach pain, vomiting and frequent breathing, known as hyperventilation. Finally, patients are blinded and brain damaged.

But Norwegian expert Professor Newt-Erik Hovda has developed a finger prick blood test that detects poisoning even before symptoms appear. He's now training up medics throughout Bangladesh and India as part of a clinical trial for the test, as well as a drug that can be used as a much better alternative treatment to ethanol.

But Norwegian expert Professor Newt-Erik Hovda has developed a finger prick blood test that detects poisoning even before symptoms appear. He's now training up medics throughout Bangladesh and India as part of a clinical trial for the test, as well as a drug that can be used as a much better alternative treatment to ethanol.

Over the past 25 years, there have been over 1,000 documented methanol outbreaks across the world, some claiming dozens or even hundreds of lives. But outbreaks are seldom reported in many countries. So the need for better diagnosis and treatment couldn't be greater.

Over the past 25 years, there have been over 1,000 documented methanol outbreaks across the world, some claiming dozens or even hundreds of lives. But outbreaks are seldom reported in many countries. So the need for better diagnosis and treatment couldn't be greater.

Das ist so, wie es angefangen hat. Du sagst, es hat acht Stunden gedauert. Ich habe gehört, du hast gesagt, dass es im Grunde die Intention war, eine Satire zu unterleiten, die megalomanische Natur der Idee. Ist das richtig?

Das ist so, wie es angefangen hat. Du sagst, es hat acht Stunden gedauert. Ich habe gehört, du hast gesagt, dass es im Grunde die Intention war, eine Satire zu unterleiten, die megalomanische Natur der Idee. Ist das richtig?

You thought you were going to offend the White House. In fact, the White House reposted it. I suppose what this underlines is the extraordinary potential creativity of AI, but all of the dangers as well.

You thought you were going to offend the White House. In fact, the White House reposted it. I suppose what this underlines is the extraordinary potential creativity of AI, but all of the dangers as well.

I have seen Amelia Perez and I enjoyed it. I saw it with a film festival audience in Toronto and it is a wild ride. It's very unusual. I understand some of the controversy around it, but as an audacious piece of filmmaking, I enjoyed it.