PUTRAJAYA: The Health Ministry has received 14 new cases of alcohol poisoning today.
Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said seven of the new cases were from Selangor; two from Kuala Lumpur and five from Perak.
“With these new cases, the numbers of notifications from Selangor are now 55; Kuala Lumpur (nine) and Perak (five).”
“In this respect, the total number of notifications received from government medical facilities is at 69 as of 12pm on Thursday (Sept 20),” he said in a statement.
The death toll relating to alcohol poisoning, he said, is now at 21 cases, adding that 16 deaths were reported in Selangor, three in Kuala Lumpur and two in Perak.
“Of the 21 fatalities, one was reported from a private hospital in Perak,” said Dr Noor Hisham.
He also said the ministry had received positive results for methanol from blood samples on eight cases in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur.
“The test result from samples taken from suspected cases in Perak has yet to be received.”
The director-general added that the ministry via the Food Safety and Quality Division would continue its enforcement activities nationwide to address the issue at hand.
Hard liquor suspected to have methanol in them involved several brands - Grand Royal Whisky, Mandalay Whisky, Joker Whisky and the Kingfisher as well as Volcano beer.
To date, he said 68 premises selling liquor had been inspected and the ministry had seized 647 bottles of liquor, which failed the Food Act 1983 and the Food Regulations 1985.
Dr Noor Hisham warned all parties that those found guilty of preparing and selling any tainted food and drink products which posed health risk could be slapped with fine of not more than RM100,000 or jail for not more than 10 years or both under Section 13 of the Food Act 1983.
The ministry also advised the society to be cautious of drinking alcohol drinks that could be tainted with methanol, he said.
He said anyone showing any of the methanol poisoning symptoms such as breathing difficulties, stomach pain, blurry vision, vomiting, and diarrhoea should seek medical treatment immediately.
“We will continue to monitor the development of this case and will update the public from time to time,” he added.