On 21/12, the Cuc An toan thuc pham, under the Bo Y te, instructed the So Y te Hai Phong to mobilize all resources to treat the victims and thoroughly trace the origin of the alcohol involved in an incident that resulted in one death and multiple hospitalizations. The agency urged local health officials to immediately halt the circulation of suspected products and strictly penalize food safety violations to prevent widespread consequences.

This directive followed a report from the So Y te Hai Phong concerning a suspected alcohol poisoning incident after a family meal at the home of Mr. Ca Ngoc Chung in Tu Minh ward. Those who attended the meal subsequently experienced unusual symptoms, including dizziness, lightheadedness, and difficulty breathing. Despite immediate emergency care from relatives, one person died, and several others are currently receiving intensive treatment.

Dr. Nguyen Trung Nguyen, director of the Trung tam Chong doc at Benh vien Bach Mai, assessed similar incidents, stating the primary cause is often the consumption of counterfeit alcohol or antiseptic alcohol produced from industrial methanol.

According to Dr. Nguyen, once methanol enters the body, it metabolizes into formic acid, directly attacking and severely damaging organs, particularly the optic nerves and brain. The most perilous aspect of this toxic substance is its insidious nature. Methanol has a slightly sweet taste and induces intoxication similar to traditional alcohol, making it difficult for victims to differentiate and often leading to a lack of vigilance.

The metabolism of methanol progresses silently and discreetly. By the time external symptoms manifest, internal organs are often severely damaged, sometimes losing all function. In Vietnam, late hospital admissions contribute to a high mortality rate for methanol poisoning cases, estimated between 30-50%.

Le Nga