Eight people methanol poisoned in CzechRep since Friday noon

The Pardubice regional hospital, however, later dismissed the information. Therefore, the total of new poisonings is probably seven.

"A 50-year-old man with suspected intoxication with methyl alcohol was brought to the Pardubice regional hospital by the rescue service this morning, but the suspicion has not proved," hospital spokesman Dusan Korel told CTK.

The sales and serving of drinks containing more than 20 percent of alcohol have been banned in the country since Friday evening.

Bootleg alcohol has claimed 19 lives and dozens of people are in hospital. Some people have gone blind.

Heger TOP 09) said the operative group members agreed on that the nationwide ban was a correct measure and that it will continue to be valid.

"The spread (of poisonings) is still culminating," Heger said.

He said the network distributing the tainted alcohol has not yet been well examined.

"We are starting discussing how to define safe alcohol," Heger said.

He said all poisoning cases have been related to the consumption of Czech brands.

That is why the ban might not concern quality foreign alcohol in future.

"But this will not be on the days ahead,...the situation is still serious," Heger said.

The police have accused 19 people in connection with bootleg alcohol, 12 of them in the Moravia-Silesia Region.

Author: ČTK
www.ctk.cz