British lawyer Simone White has become the fifth tourist to have died in a suspected mass poisoning in Laos, south-east Asia. The UK's Foreign Office confirmed the 28-year-old's death on Thursday, saying: "We are supporting the family of a British woman who has died in Laos, and we are in contact with the local authorities."

The recent deaths of four tourists in Laos have drawn attention to the dangers of methanol poisoning. This toxic chemical, often found in counterfeit or poorly brewed alcohol, can cause severe metabolic acidosis,