Deaths from tainted Argentine cocaine up to 17, likely to rise

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) -At least 17 people have died in Argentina after consuming cocaine suspected of containing a poisonous substance, with the cases clustered around several towns in sprawling Buenos Aires province, officials and local media said on Wednesday.

Another 56 people have been hospitalized, a government source told Reuters, adding that more are seeking hospital care in eight of the province's municipalities due to the toxic cocaine.