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Authorities report 59
people with possible cases
of methanol poisoning have
been admitted to area
hospitals. Of those, 19
men and 6 women
died. / A.M. Costa
Rica wire services photo.
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The
number of deaths linked to
liquor
adulterated with methanol
increases to 25
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
The Ministry of Health confirmed
on Monday, there have been 25
deaths linked to nine brands of
liquors contaminated with
methanol. Authorities report 59
people with possible cases of
methanol poisoning have been
admitted to area hospitals.
Of those, 19 men and 6 women
died. There are 22 Costa Ricans,
one Nicaraguan, and two-people
whose nationality has not been
determined because they were
homeless, according to the
ministry.
So far, there have been no
reports of foreign tourists
being affected by the wave of
deaths and illnesses.
There has been a closure of 10
stores where prohibited alcohol
was being sold. The special
operation is related to the
sanitary alert over liquor
contaminated with methanol.
The company in charge of
distributing the liquor in the
city of Turrucares*,
in the Province of Alajuela, was
closed.
"So far, more than 55,000
bottles of liquor have been
seized," said the ministry in
its statement.
The alert is for the sales of
bottled liquor of the following
brands: Chonete, Gran Apache,
Estrella Roja, Montano, Baron
Rojo, Timbuka, Molotov, Cuerazo,
and Sacheto.
"According to laboratory sample
results, those brands were
tainted with methanol," said the
ministry in its statement.
The ministry issued an alert
July 5th about methanol
contamination in liquor, as A.M.
Costa Rica reported.
With additional research, the
specialists found the rest of
the brands listed above, which
are also tainted with methanol.
According to specialists, some
of these brands have permits for
sale, however "it is suspected
that counterfeit products of
these brands are in the market,"
said the ministry in its
statement.
Given the impossibility of
distinguishing between original
and fake liquors, and using the
precautionary principle, an
order to prohibit the sale or
consumption of any of these
liquors announced.
"The people or companies that
are producing or selling these
liquors are to be sanctioned
administratively and
criminally," said the ministry
in its statement.
The ministry said that any
store, bar, restaurant,
supermarket, or any outlet which
sells, stocks or uses those
liquors, in any way, would be
closed.
Police announced that officers
will continue with more liquor
seizures.
Methanol, also known as methyl
alcohol, originally was produced
chiefly 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 to boost 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 drunk
the liquor. They are rapid
drunkenness, nausea, dizziness,
vomiting, severe abdominal pain,
severe headache, and lack of
coordination.
Specialists make the following
recommendations:
- Do not consume or buy the
aforementioned brands until the
alert is lifted.
- The sale of those brands is
forbidden until the alert is
lifted.
- If any person detects the sale
of this product in any store, he
or she must report the sale of
this product to the local
police. Complaints can also be
made by phone (506) 2233-2854.
The A.M. Costa Rica team
continues to ask readers to
share this alert among their
contacts.
--------------------------
Have you seen these brands of
liquor sold in your community? We
would like to know your thoughts
on this story. Send your
comments to news@amcostarica.com
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