  72 patients were attended in public hospitals due to methanol poisoning for drinking the tainted liquor, of these 35 people died. - Ministry of Health photo- |
|||
   
|
 Published
Monday, November 9, 2020
Methanol liquor poisoning
death toll rises to 35 By the A.M. Costa Rica staff According to data from the Health Surveillance Unit of the Ministry of Health, 72 patients were attended in public hospitals due to methanol poisoning for drinking the tainted liquor, of these 35 people died. Of the deceased, 31 are men and four are women, ages range from 23 to 75-years-old. These cases have been registered in the provinces of San José, Alajuela, Heredia, Puntarena, Limón and Cartago. So far, there have been no reports of international tourists being affected by the wave of deaths and illnesses. Officials from the ministry continue to carry out the operations to confiscate liquors contaminated with methanol, where more than 522 liquor stores have been inspected and 16,339 units of smuggled liquor contaminated with methanol have been seized. Reports show that of those poisoned liquors seized, the majority were of Guaro Fiesta Blanca brand. Several cases of smuggled liquor contaminated with methanol have been recorded throughout the year. Since 2019, the ministry established a health alert on the following ten liquor brands: • Guaro Chonete • Guaro Cuerazo • Guaro Sacheto • Guaro Gran Apache • Estrella Roja Aguardiente • Guaro Montano • Barón Rojo Aguardiente • Timbuka Aguardiente • Molotov Aguardiente • Guaro Fiesta Blanca Methanol, also known as methyl alcohol, was originally produced by the distillation of wood, hence the name wood alcohol. Sometimes methanol is created accidentally by bootleggers who are trying to produce ethanol, the type of alcohol usually found in beer, wine, and liquor. Sometimes methanol is added to ethanol for boosting its effect. Methanol is toxic in two ways. First, methanol can be fatal due to effects on the central nervous system, acting as a depressant in the same manner as ethanol poisoning. Second, it metabolizes to form an acid that can cause blindness in those who drink it, as well as frequent deaths. Because of its toxic properties, methanol was frequently used as a denaturant additive for ethanol manufactured for industrial uses to prevent the liquid from being used for drinking. Symptoms can develop almost immediately after having imbibed the liquor. Symptoms are rapid drunkenness, nausea, dizziness, vomiting, severe abdominal pain, severe headache, and lack of coordination. Specialists make the following recommendations: • Do not drink or buy liquor of the brands mentioned above until the alert is lifted. • The sale of these products are forbidden until the alert is lifted. • If any person detects the sale of this product in any store, report it to the local police or 911 line. If any person has had liquor from the aforementioned brands and is presenting health issues as severe vomiting, agitation, disorientation, blindness, or any other, immediately call 911. Complaints should be made by email to carolina.quesadar@misalud.go.cr or by calling the line for the ministry at 2223-0333. According to the ministry, last year 76 people were treated for suspected poisoning by drinking liquor with methanol. Of these, 29 people died. A.M. Costa Rica urges readers to share this alert with their contacts. ------------------------------ Which of these brands have you seen being sold in your community? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com  |
||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
