At least 31 dead from adulterated alcohol consumption in Ecuador

( Spanish) — The Ministry of Health of Ecuador reported this Tuesday that there are already 31 deaths from adulterated alcohol consumption.

In a statement, the agency reported that 14 deaths were recorded in the province of Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas and 17 more in Esmeraldas.

The authority added that so far 90 cases have been confirmed. The data covers from October 24 to November 7.

“The inter-institutional actions of epidemiological surveillance and control are maintained, as well as the exhortation not to consume alcohol without a health record,” the Ministry said.

The first report of deaths from adulterated alcohol in the provinces of Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas and Esmeraldas was given last October 26when 7 people were reported dead (the figure is now 31 dead as of Tuesday, November 8, as mentioned above).

Two days after the first report, on October 28the Minister of Public Health of Ecuador, José Ruales, indicated that some five raids were carried out in both provinces in which the authorities found 50,000 liters of illegal alcohol.