(CNN Spanish) - The
Dominican Republic reported 26 deaths on Wednesday and at least 90 intoxicated, in a six-day period, due to the intake of home-made alcoholic beverages adulterated with high levels of methanol.
The director of Epidemiology of the Ministry of Public Health, Ronald Skewes, concluded that the methanol poisonings began during Holy Week, since 88% of the cases correspond to that period.
The official said that the consumption of homemade alcohol with high levels of methanol has become a major concern.
Given the deaths from methanol poisoning, the Ministry of Public Health updated the epidemiological alert on Monday and asked the population to refrain from drinking illegally produced alcoholic beverages.
Simultaneously, the Attorney General's Office, the Ministry of Health and ProConsumidor carry out raids and operations to dismantle clandestine laboratories that produce adulterated alcohol in the country.
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The director of ProConsumidor, Eddy Alcántara, reported that an operation began this Wednesday with 32 inspectors who will verify that the establishments do not sell these potentially deadly products.
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