SAN JOS, July 21 (AFP): Alcohol tainted with potentially toxic levels of methanol has killed 19 people in Costa Rica, where authorities issued an alert against drinking some half-dozen brands.
The Ministry of Health issued the national warning Friday while also updating the death toll.
Of 34 people who have been poisoned, 14 men and five women, age 32 to 72, have died since the first week of June, the ministry said.
Authorities warned that it was not known how much alcohol had been adulterated, but have confiscated some 30,000 bottles and are carrying out a countrywide investigation.
The doctored alcohol contained between 30 to 50 percent methanol, according to Donald Corella, head of emergency services at Calderon Guardia Hospital in San Jose, who was quoted in the daily La Nacion.
Costa Rica on alert as 19 die drinking alcohol
FE Team | Published: July 21, 2019 21:44:34
Costa Rica on alert as 19 die drinking alcohol
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