Four people have now died in a mystery suspected poisoning in Laos. The fourth victim has been named as 19-year-old Australian Bianca Jones, whose death was confirmed by her family on Thursday.

Just hours earlier, the US State Department told the media that an American man also died in the Laos tourist town of Vang Vieng.

The State Department told CBS News, “We are closely monitoring the situation and providing consular assistance.” The American victim’s name was not provided.

Bianca Jones’s friend Holly Bowles remains on life support in hospital, and reports say a British woman is also in hospital. There are no official numbers for how many people have been affected by the poisoning.

Two more victims sadly passed away last week, both Danish women aged 19 and 20. No more information was disclosed due to confidentiality concerns.

While nothing has been confirmed and the police investigation is still ongoing, news reports and comments online from other tourists are suggesting the people might have consumed drinks laced with methanol.

The two Australian women were staying at the Nana Backpacker Hostel, now closed for police investigation. Evidence suggests that free shots supplied by the hostel may have had something to do with the poisonings, but nothing has been confirmed.

The Associated Press was told by the hostel’s manager that the two women and more than 100 other guests received free shots of Lao vodka from the hostel. He said the women then went out for the night, and no other guests reported health issues.

While ethanol is a naturally occurring substance in alcoholic beverages, methanol is often added to bootleg alcohol products. It is toxic to humans.

British traveller Simone White has been confirmed as one of the victims currently in hospital. Her friend, Bethany Clarke, posted on a Laos Backpacking Facebook group to warn others of the dangers involving local alcohol.

She said, “Urgent – please avoid all local spirits. Our group stayed in Vang Vieng and we drank free shots offered by one of the bars.

“Just avoid them as so not worth it. Six of us who drank from the same place are in hospital currently with methanol poisoning.”