São Paulo Confirms 10th Methanol Death as Pernambuco Logs Fifth in Expanding Poisoning Outbreak

Overview

• A São Paulo state bulletin on November 26 raised the totals to 10 confirmed deaths and 49 confirmed methanol poisonings, with eight cases still under investigation, including five deaths, and 516 suspected reports discarded.
• Pernambuco confirmed a fifth death through a state toxicology report and reports 113 notifications of suspected methanol intoxication this year, including cases linked by families to drinks bought in São Bento do Una.
• The newest confirmed São Paulo fatality is a 26-year-old from Sorocaba who died on August 16, with the IML later identifying methanol exposure associated with cocaine, prompting a Civil Police inquiry.
• Health authorities warn that adulterated alcoholic beverages are the suspected source, advise immediate hospital care at the first symptoms, and note that ethanol-based therapy and dialysis can be lifesaving.
• São Paulo officials are probing additional suspected cases, including a man in Santos who lost vision after drinking spirits and a São Vicente death still pending forensic confirmation, while inspections of points of sale continue.