Four more methanol poisoning deaths have been reported – three in Selangor and one in Kuala Lumpur – bringing the latest death toll recorded by the Ministry of Health (KKM) to 37.

Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the number of deaths reported by the ministry’s facilities up to 12pm today were 23 cases in Selangor, 11 in Kuala Lumpur and three in Perak.

Based on nationality, the deaths comprised two Bangladeshis, two Indian nationals, 11 Myanmar nationals, eight Nepalese, 10 Malaysians and four others of unknown nationality.

Noor Hisham said the ministry received 93 notifications of cases of methanol poisoning from its health facilities since Sept 15 to 12 pm today.

“Since 12pm, Sept 23 until 12 pm today, six new cases have been notified involving four from Perak, and one case each from Negeri Sembilan and Kuala Lumpur.

“With this increase, the number of methanol poisoning cases in Kuala Lumpur is 17, Negeri Sembilan increased by two cases while Selangor and Perak remained 62 and 12 cases respectively," he said in a statement.

Noor Hisham said of the total number of patients receiving treatment at hospitals, eight have been found to be stable and discharged.

Twenty-three patients were still receiving treatment at 12 hospitals around Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Perak and Negeri Sembilan. Of the 23, eight were critical cases, he said.

“The Health Ministry will continue to monitor the situation and take preventative and control measures to address this incident," he added.

- Bernama