Ministry of Health reported ten cases of intoxication and three deaths in the state of São Paulo after consumption of adulterated drinks
O monitors cases of poisoning by No state of. The guidance is that all health facilities, especially the emergency network and emergency, follow the notification protocol for suspected cases of exogenous poisoning (with toxic agent of external origin). In an extraordinary meeting of the Federal Government’s Fast Warning System Technical Committee (SAR), on Monday (29), the tenth case of methanol poisoning related to alcohol consumption in the state of São Paulo was confirmed. By the end of the day, three deaths had been confirmed. The meeting was coordinated by the National Secretariat of Drug Policy (Senad) of the Ministry of Justice and Public Security.
In a statement, the folder said that the National Consumer Secretariat (Senacon) will issue procons from all over the country with guidelines to suppliers and consumers about safety in marketing and consumption of alcohol. Also according to the statement, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock raises information to evaluate any surveillance actions. “The cases have an unprecedented and diverse standard for those who were previously recorded. Methanol poisoning occurrences were mostly associated with people in extreme vulnerability or homeless population, both from alcohol intake in tampered gas stations,” the note said.
“However, from the beginning of September, in a short time, intoxicated patients had a history of recent intake of alcoholic beverages distilled in social scenes of alcohol consumption, including bars, and with different types of drink, such as Gin, Whiskey, Vodka, among others,” the text added. Given the unprecedented character of the situation, the Ministry of Justice and Public Security warned that there are still unmarked cases, as well as cases that follow under investigation or awaiting laboratory confirmation.
Representatives of the Ministry of Justice and Public Safety, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, the Federal Police, the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa), the Federal Revenue, the São Paulo Scientific Police, the São Paulo Legal Institute and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. On the morning of Tuesday (30), the Ministers of Justice and Public Security, Ricardo Lewandowski; Health, Alexandre Padilha; and Federal Police Director-General Andrei Rodrigues grant press conference to give more details about the Federal Government’s action plan.
Misunderstand
According to the statement, methanol poisoning characterizes extremely severity medical emergency. The substance, when ingested, is metabolized in the body in toxic products (such as formaldehyde and formic acid), which can lead to death. The main symptoms are cloudy vision or vision loss, which may lead to blindness, and widespread malaise, including nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and sweating.
In case of identification of symptoms, the guidance of the federal government is to immediately seek an emergency medical service and to contact at least one of the following institutions:
- Anvisa Dial-Intoxication: 0800 722 6001;
- Center for Toxicological Information and Assistance (Ciatox) of the city, for specialized guidance: contacts available here
- São Paulo (CCI) poisoning control center: (11) 5012-5311 or 0800-771-3733-from anywhere in the country.
“It is important to identify and guide possible contacts that have consumed the same drink, recommending that they immediately seek a health service for proper assessment and treatment. Delay in care and identification of intoxication increases the likelihood of the most severe outcome with the patient’s death.”
*With information from Agência Brasil
