Death toll from drinking counterfeit alcohol in Iran: 39 people in Khuzestan, 12 in Mazandaran

The head of Ahvaz Jundishapour University of Medical Sciences announced in his latest report on the number of deaths due to alcohol poisoning that this number has reached 39 in Khuzestan province. It was also announced that 12 people have died in Mazandaran.

Dr. Farhad Abolnejadian said on Wednesday, March 11, that 502 people have been admitted to hospitals in Khuzestan province after consuming alcohol, of which 39 have died. According to him, 37 of the deceased were from Ahvaz and 2 others were from the city of Ramhormoz.

Poisoning with counterfeit alcohol in Ahvaz has intensified in recent days after rumors spread that drinking alcohol can prevent the coronavirus.

Death in Mazandaran

On the other hand, the Director General of Forensic Medicine of Mazandaran announced on Wednesday, March 11, that 12 people have lost their lives in this province due to the consumption of alcoholic beverages.

Poisoning from drinking counterfeit or industrial alcohol in Alborz Province also claimed 7 lives.

In Tehran, in recent days, the head of the toxicology department at Loghman Hospital said that cases of methanol alcohol poisoning have increased and the number of people visiting the hospital for this reason has increased.

Since the official announcement of the coronavirus outbreak in Iran, people have accused the Islamic Republic's authorities of concealing the matter and providing false information.

On Friday, March 29, in a meeting of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that the Iranian regime is reluctant to provide information about the coronavirus outbreak, citing the Islamic Republic's record of secrecy, and "I am concerned that they are withholding important information." Mike Pompeo had warned the week before that the United States was concerned about the Islamic Republic's officials' secrecy about the coronavirus outbreak.

The United States announced on Thursday that it has granted waivers from sanctions on Iran, allowing Iran's central bank to make financial transfers to send certain humanitarian services.

Source: Voice of America