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Brazil Expands Methanol Poisoning Response as Ceará Reports New Suspicions and a Death

Health authorities are operating a national crisis center to coordinate the emergency.

Overview

  • Ceará opened two new investigations for suspected methanol intoxication in Fortaleza and Juazeiro do Norte, with the Juazeiro case resulting in death after the state had discarded six earlier suspicions.
  • Pernambuco logged six additional suspected cases and now reports 37 notifications since late September, with three deaths and multiple hospitalizations detailed by the state health department.
  • In São Paulo’s Vale do Paraíba region, nine patients remain under investigation as the state counts 171 notifications with a large share still being analyzed, according to a G1 tally from state data.
  • The Health Ministry has distributed 1,125 ampoules of pharmaceutical ethanol to nine states, is acquiring 60,000 more, and has purchased 2,600 units of fomepizole slated for distribution based on local needs.
  • Officials urge people to avoid alcoholic beverages during the crisis or verify provenance and registration if consuming, and to seek immediate care for symptoms that can begin 12 to 24 hours after exposure and sometimes up to 90 hours.