Eleven individuals have passed away, and ten others are currently in critical condition after consuming homemade alcohol in Colombia.
The alarm was raised when law enforcement in Barranquilla responded to an urgent situation involving an unconscious man on the street. Medical personnel arrived at the scene and confirmed the death of a 47-year-old individual, as reported by Colombia One.
Agustin Guerrero, a toxicologist leading the medical response, stated that one individual did not respond to resuscitation attempts and died upon arrival at the hospital. Guerrero mentioned that the patients brought to the General Hospital of Barranquilla were in extremely critical conditions.
Following the initial incident, more patients were admitted and required intubation, advanced resuscitation procedures, and immediate transfer to intensive care. Guerrero highlighted the challenge of early detection of methanol poisoning, which can have immediate or delayed onset after ingestion.
It is known that homeless individuals in Barranquilla often consume “cochoco,” a low-cost mixture of ethyl alcohol, methanol, and other substances sold in plastic bottles for approximately 50 cents.
Colombia previously faced a health crisis in late 2022 when 37 people died in Bogotá due to methanol poisoning.
Methanol poisoning occurs when methanol is consumed accidentally, leading to the formation of formic acid that can cause various health issues including vision impairment, central nervous system damage, and death.
Despite being tasteless and odorless, methanol poisoning can manifest through symptoms like confusion, dizziness, fatigue, and vomiting initially, with severe symptoms emerging within 12 to 48 hours post-consumption. These severe effects may include headaches, nausea, seizures, vision problems, and even coma in some cases.
An incident in Laos in November 2022 where six individuals died at a bar due to methanol poisoning raised awareness about the dangers of the substance, involving casualties from different nationalities.
The UK government’s Travel Aware initiative cautions travelers about the risks of methanol poisoning in popular tourist destinations and advises seeking immediate medical assistance if poisoning is suspected by contacting emergency services or heading directly to the nearest hospital.
