At least 19 are dead in Costa Rica after drinking alcohol contaminated with high levels of methanol.
Costa Rica officials revealed the deaths over the weekend, according to ABC News. The victims, aged 32 years old to 72 years old, died over the past two months in various cities across the tropical island country.
“It is important to emphasize that this information is preliminary since the investigations continue,” Coast Rica Ministry of Health said in a statement. “The Ministry of Health continues to carry out operations throughout the national territory in order to reduce the exposure of consumers to adulterated products.”
Though the official cause of death has yet to be released, early signs point to each person dying from consuming toxic levels of methanol. The Ministry of Health has confiscated roughly 30,000 bottles of alcohol suspected of having the lethal defect.
The Dominican Republic is handling similar problems stretching back at least over the past year. The popular tourist spot is investigating the deaths of 10 American tourists, several of which are suspected to have been caused by tainted or bootlegged alcohol.
