Brazil has 209 cases under investigation for methanol poisoning after consuming alcoholic beverages, according to information released by the Ministry of Health this Sunday (5).
Across the country, there are 16 confirmed cases – 14 in São Paulo and 2 in Paraná. The information is sent by the states and consolidated by the National Center for Strategic Information and Response in Health Surveillance (CIEVS).
The state of São Paulo accounts for the majority of notifications, with 14 confirmed cases and 178 under investigation.
In total, 13 states have reported cases – Federal District, Goiás, Mato Grosso do Sul, Mato Grosso, Pernambuco, Paraná, Rondônia, São Paulo, Piauí, Rio Grande do Sul, Rio de Janeiro, Paraíba and Ceará. The states of Bahia and Espírito Santo had their reported cases ruled out. Ceará has reported its first suspected case.
So far, the country has 15 death records, with two deaths confirmed in the state of São Paulo. The remaining deaths (13) are under investigation:
• 7, in São Paulo,
• 3, in Pernambuco,
• 1, in Mato Grosso do Sul,
• 1, in Paraíba,
• 1, in Ceará.
The information considers records sent by the states up to 4 p.m. this Sunday (5) and is subject to local updates.
Antidote
The Ministry of Health also reported that it has begun distributing pharmaceutical ethanol, an antidote used in the treatment of methanol poisoning, to states that have formally requested stock reinforcement.
In this first shipment, 580 ampoules were sent to five states:
• 240 to Pernambuco,
• 100 to Paraná,
• 90 to Bahia,
• 90 to the Federal District,
• 60 to Mato Grosso do Sul.
The distributed units are part of the 4,300 ampoules delivered to the Unified Health System (SUS) stocks by federal university hospitals, in partnership with the Brazilian Hospital Services Company (Ebserh).
Emergency
Methanol poisoning is a medical emergency of extreme severity. The substance, when ingested, is metabolized in the body into toxic products (such as formaldehyde and formic acid), which can lead to death.
The main symptoms of poisoning are: blurred vision or loss of vision (which can lead to blindness) and general malaise (nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, sweating).
In case of identifying the symptoms, seek emergency medical services immediately and contact at least one of the following institutions:
• Anvisa Poison Control Hotline: 0800 722 6001;
• Your city’s CIATox for specialized guidance (see list here);
• São Paulo Poison Control Center (CCI): (11) 5012-5311 or 0800-771-3733 – from anywhere in the country.
It is important to identify and advise possible contacts who have consumed the same beverage, recommending that they seek health services immediately for evaluation and proper treatment.
Delay in treatment and identification of the poisoning increases the probability of the most serious outcome, with the patient’s death.
Source: Agência Brasil