An outbreak of fatal pneumonitis caused by contamination of illicit alcohol with paraquat.

Introduction: We describe a series of unsuspected paraquat poisonings presenting as an outbreak of fatal acute pneumonitis. Exposure to paraquat occurred during the widespread practice of adding substances to alter the taste or potency of illicit alcohol. The diagnosis was suspected only after autopsy findings suggestive of paraquat toxicity were seen in the first fatality.