The death toll from a suspected alcohol poisoning incident in Manase Township in Blantyre, has risen to eight.

Blantyre District Health Office (DHO) spokesperson Chrissy Banda said the number has risen from seven following the death of one the two people admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) at the Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in the late hours of Monday afternoon.

On Monday morning, Banda indicated that three others were in stable condition.

On Sunday, Blantyre DHO director of health and social services Dr Gift Kawalazira indicated that the victims, who were rushed to the hospital, presented with shortness of breath, stomach pains, diarrhea, blurred vision, vomiting, body pains and severe dehydration.

He also indicated that postmortem was done on one of the bodies.

“Preliminary findings are suggestive of acute poisoning as cause of death but full report will follow after laboratory testing,” Dr Kawalazira said.