Methanol poisoning behind lambanog incidents — DOH, PGH

The Department of Health and Philippine General Hospital on Monday pointed to methanol poisoning as the cause behind the deaths of 11 people and the hospitalization of hundreds of others in Laguna and Quezon after drinking lambanog.

DOH Undersecretary and Food and Drug Administration officer-in-charge Eric Domingo said the rushed or incorrect method of producing the distilled palm liquor may lead to the production of methanol, which is poisonous for humans.

“Pag mali or minadali ‘yung process na pinagdaanan ng pag-produce ng alak, imbis na ethanol, na ito ‘yung maaaring i-digest ng tao, methanol po ‘yung napo-produce. E ‘yung methanol poisonous po talaga ito sa tao,” Domingo explained on GMA News TV's Balitanghali.

In a separate press conference, PGH spokesperson Jonas del Rosario said there is no home remedy for methanol poisoning which is why victims must be rushed to the hospital immediately.

“Ang unang mararamdaman, sumasakit tiyan, nasusuka, nahihilo ka, ‘yung iyong level of consciousness ay maaaring naapektuhan. Malaking warning sign ay ‘yung parang lumalabo ang paningin mo, at siyempre ‘yung iba maaaring maging unconscious na.”

The death toll due to lambanog consumption in various parties rose to 11 on Monday while hundreds continue to be confined. 

Del Rosario said the 69 victims rushed to the PGH are now in stable condition, while one has been sent home.

One patient is undergoing dialysis to speed up the removal of the acid from the bloodstream.

Six other patients have already been transferred to the ward for further monitoring.

“Napakaimportante talaga na binabantayan sila dahil sa umpisa ay akala mo wala silang problema,” Del Rosario said.

Meanwhile, Domingo urged lambanog manufacturers to ensure that they get FDA approval for their products.

“Importante itong mga produktong ito nareregister, natitingnan natin at natetest po natin. Mahirap po talaga pag ganitong mga backyard production tapos hindi sila nagpapa-regulate,” he said. — RSJ, GMA News