Death toll from tainted rice wine in E. Cambodia rises to 19: health spokesman

At least 19 people died and 172 others fell ill in eastern Kratie province after they had consumed rice wine brewed with "high levels of methanol," Ly Sovann, a spokesman for the Ministry of Health, confirmed late Sunday.

"According to the latest figures, 19 had died and 172 sickened after they had drunk tainted rice wine in five separate incidents since Nov. 19," he told Xinhua. "Laboratory tests found the deaths were caused by the high levels of methanol in the wine."

Local authorities have closed all locations that produced rice wine in the province, he said, adding that stalls selling rice wine were also temporarily closed.

On Sunday morning, the Ministry of Health issued a statement, stating that the test results by the National Laboratory confirmed that the tainted wine contained heigh levels of methanol.

Earlier this week, local authorities announced that six of the deaths were caused by toxic dog meat delicacy, but the Ministry of Health said the test results had confirmed that the rice wine was the cause of the poisoning.

Health officials have been sent to the province to look into those incidents.

Rice or herbal wine is usually popular in rural areas in the country due to its cheap price. Enditem