A total of 52 suspected cases of intoxication have been identified in different regions of the country after consumption of cane alcohol -
GEORGES GOBET / AFP
Twenty people have died in Costa Rica in recent days after consuming alcoholic beverages adulterated with methanol, the health ministry said on Saturday.
Health and police authorities have been on alert since early October, when the first deaths from methanol poisoning were recorded in the popular district of La Carpio, in the western part of San José.
A total of 52 suspected cases of poisoning have been reported in different parts of the country after consuming cane alcohol, known as guaro, the ministry said in a statement.
Health authorities issued a health alert last Thursday for Fiesta Blanca brand guaro, suspecting that it was sold adulterated with methanol.
The Ministry of Health and the police inspected 49 commercial establishments to collect samples of guaro and submit them for laboratory analysis.
On Thursday and Friday, police seized more than 14,000 bottles from the premises of the distribution company Guaro Fiesta Blanca, the statement said.
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Poisoning
Health
Costa Rica
Alcohol
World