Death toll from alcohol poisoning in Iran reported to exceed 600

Following the outbreak of coronavirus and the emergence of a new wave of alcohol poisoning in Iran after rumors intensified, official reports indicate that more than 600 people have died from alcohol poisoning in the country.

Gholamhossein Esmaili, spokesperson for Iran’s judiciary, stated on Tuesday, April 9th, that the death toll and poisoning cases resulting from alcohol consumption were higher than “expected,” and said that there have been more than 600 deaths and over 3,000 poisoning cases in the country in this regard.

Esmaili also announced the arrest of several individuals in Khuzestan and Razavi Khorasan provinces in connection with the production of non-standard alcohols.

The new wave of alcohol poisoning in Iran intensified after rumors spread claiming that drinking alcohol could prevent coronavirus infection. According to officials, some individuals mixed chemical substances into methanol (industrial alcohol), which is toxic and deadly, and sold it to people as an alcoholic beverage. Experts say that consuming alcoholic beverages has no effect in preventing coronavirus infection.

Reports of Iranian citizens being poisoned from consuming industrial alcohol have also been reported in Fars, Alborz, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad, Razavi Khorasan, East and West Azerbaijan, and Kermanshah provinces.

Previously, it was reported that at least 240 people died from industrial alcohol poisoning in various provinces of Iran over the past month. A figure that has shown an upward increase based on reports published in recent days.

Source: Voice of America