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Eight people dead in Latvia after consuming tainted alcoholic drinks

RIGA, Latvia, Oct. 16 (UPI) -- Eight of 11 people hospitalized in Latvia after drinking alcoholic beverages contaminated with methanol have died, a hospital official said Wednesday.

The victims had bought the liquor at various stores around the city of Jelgava, RIA Novosti reported.

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Five of the patients had died by Friday, the head doctor at the city's hospital said. Three more had died by Wednesday.

Drinking methanol severely affects the central nervous system and can cause blindness, coma and death.

At least 38 people died last fall in the Czech Republic, and many more were hospitalized, after drinking products tainted with methanol. Dozens of people were charged in the poisonings.

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