Hundreds of Iranians flooded hospitals and dozens died after being poisoned by bootlegged alcohol they believed could stop the coronavirus.
Iran has suffered the highest deaths per capita from COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, in the world. As the illness spreads throughout the country, some residents resorted to testing out medical myths they believed could save people from the coronavirus, including a rumor that consuming alcohol could stop the virus.
Because alcohol is illegal in Iran, some turned to bootleggers to brew batches to stop the disease. The inexperienced bootleggers used toxic methanol instead of ethanol and used bleach to adjust the color, according to Iranian Health Ministry official Ali Ehsanpour. The concoction poisoned more than 270 people, all of him whom needed to be hospitalized, and killed 44 others in the city of Ahvaz.
Ahvaz’s deputy prosecutor, Ali Beiranvand, announced that seven bootleggers were arrested in connection to the botched booze.
More than 8,000 people have been diagnosed with COVID-19 in Iran, and 291 people have died. Among those infected are several high-ranking lawmakers. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei announced that medical professionals who die after treating those infected with the coronavirus will be deemed “martyrs,” ensuring their families will be cared for after they die.
Myths about how to treat the coronavirus have been popping up around the globe. Tito’s Handmade Vodka was forced to issue a statement reiterating that its booze could not be used as hand sanitizer during the outbreak. While consuming alcohol will not stop the virus, sanitizing products that contain at least 60% alcohol can prevent infections when other hand-washing is unavailable, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
