Since last month, “117 cases of methanol poisoning” have been recorded in Peru, including “54 deaths,” Eduardo Ortega, director general of the national Center for Epidemiology, Control and Disease Prevention, told AFP.
At least 54 people have died since September in Peru after consuming adulterated alcoholic beverages, the country’s health ministry announced Monday.
Since last month, “117 cases of methanol poisoning” have been recorded in Peru, including “54 deaths,” Eduardo Ortega, director general of the national Center for Epidemiology, Control and Disease Prevention, told AFP.
The Peruvian Ministry of Health has warned about the detection of methanol in two carbonated alcoholic beverages on the market, while urging manufacturers, importers and retailers of alcoholic beverages not to use methyl alcohol (or methanol) in order to ensure public health.
According to the Methanol Institute (MI), which represents the industry worldwide, methanol is often deliberately and illegally added to alcoholic beverages as a cheaper alternative to ethanol.
Cases of methanol poisoning began to be reported in mid-September in at least nine public hospitals in the capital, Lima.
“We have seen so many recorded cases of methanol poisoning since 2010. This is the highest number in recent years,” Ortega emphasized.
Methanol poisoning can cause vomiting, convulsions, blindness and in several cases can even lead to death.
RES-EMP
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