Insta
Over 700 Iranians Dead After Drinking Methanol In False Belief That It Cures Coronavirus
Swarajya Staff
Apr 28, 2020, 07:05 PM | Updated 07:05 PM IST
Save & read from anywhere!
Bookmark stories for easy access on any device or the Swarajya app.
More than 700 people have died in Iran after ingesting toxic methanol, erroneously believing in rumours that it can cure the new coronavirus, Al Jazeera reported.
According to Iranian health authorities, alcohol poisoning killed 728 Iranians between February 20 and April 7. Last year there were only 66 deaths from alcohol poisoning.
"People think that alcohol causes immunity to corona, while drinking alcohol does not eliminate corona in the body," a medical expert was quoted as saying by Tasnim News Agency.
Iranian health ministry spokesman, Kianoush Jahanpour, said 5,011 people had been poisoned from methanol alcohol, adding that some 90 people have lost their eyesight or are suffering eye damage from the alcohol poisoning.
According to the rules laid out by Iranian Government, manufacturers of toxic methanol are required to add an artificial colour to their products so the public can differentiate it from ethanol.
The production of ethanol, widely used in production of alcoholic beverages, is illegal in Iran as consumption of alcohol is prohibited under strict Islamic law.
Iran has been faceing one of the worst outbreaks in the Middle East with 5,806 deaths and 91,000 cases
Save & read from anywhere!
Bookmark stories for easy access on any device or the Swarajya app.
Introducing ElectionsHQ + 50 Ground Reports Project
The 2024 elections might seem easy to guess, but there are some important questions that shouldn't be missed.
Do freebies still sway voters? Do people prioritise infrastructure when voting? How will Punjab vote?
The answers to these questions provide great insights into where we, as a country, are headed in the years to come.
Swarajya is starting a project with an aim to do 50 solid ground stories and a smart commentary service on WhatsApp, a one-of-a-kind. We'd love your support during this election season.
Click below to contribute.