Brazil is investigating 209 suspected cases of methanol poisoning after the consumption of adulterated alcoholic beverages, the Ministry of Health reported this Sunday (Oct. 5).
In the country, there are 16 confirmed cases – 14 in São Paulo and 2 in Paraná. The information is provided by the states and consolidated by the Center for Strategic Information and Response in Health Surveillance (CIEVS).
The state of São Paulo accounts for the majority of the records, with 14 confirmed cases and 178 under investigation.
In total, 13 of Brazil’s 27 states have reported cases. So far, the country has recorded 15 deaths, including two confirmed in the state of São Paulo. The other 13 deaths are under investigation. The information is based on 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 formally requested additional stock. In this first shipment, 580 vials were sent to five states.
Emergency
Methanol poisoning is an extremely serious medical emergency. When ingested, the substance 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, including nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and sweating.
Source: Agência Brasil