PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — Fourteen villagers whose sudden deaths were thought to have been caused by polluted water actually died from drinking rice wine containing methanol, a Cambodian health official said Monday. Health Ministry spokesman Ly Sovann said 214 other people from the same area who had fallen ill were sickened by drinking water that was contaminated with human or animal waste or insecticide. Rice wine is typically made in small batches in homes in the countryside and is popular at events such as weddings, funerals and village festivals. Outbreaks of food and water poisoning are not uncommon in Cambodia, where health checks are rare and safety regulations lax. It said sales of homemade rice wine in the area have been banned for now, and people have been ordered not to draw water from the stream believed to be contaminated.

Source: National Post May 07, 2018 10:10 UTC