The Mauá City Hall, in the São Paulo metropolitan region, confirmed this Friday (5) a case of methanol poisoning. The substance was allegedly consumed in the form of doses of alcohol, according to the patient’s report.
This is the first confirmed case of poisoning in the municipality of Mauá. According to the latest epidemiological bulletin on the adulteration of drinks crisis, a total of 10 deaths have been confirmed in the state of São Paulo and 49 other cases of poisoning.
The drunk patient from Mauá, a 47-year-old man, said he consumed doses of alcohol in two different bars in the city – in the Jardim Elizabeth and Jardim Mauá neighborhoods – between November 21 and 22.
He suffered from severe headaches, fatigue, indisposition, blurred vision and mental confusion. When he sought medical attention, he was hospitalized. His health deteriorated and he had to be intubated. He has been hospitalized in the ICU (Intensive Care Unit) of Nardini Hospital since November 23 and has been undergoing hemodialysis sessions since the 26th.
An examination of the patient’s urine, received on Tuesday (2) by the epidemiological surveillance of the municipality, showed the presence of methanol.
“The Mauá Health Surveillance carried out a preventive ban on the alcohol mentioned by the patient. The preventive ban is a preventive measure which consists of sealing and temporarily prohibiting the sale and consumption of the suspect product, keeping it separate and inaccessible to the public until the investigation is completed,” informed the town hall, in a note.
In addition to the 49 confirmed cases, the state of São Paulo saw 516 suspicions ruled out. Three cases remain under investigation, in addition to five deaths: one in Guariba (a 39-year-old patient), one in São Vicente (32 years old), one in São José dos Campos (31 years old) and two in Cajamar (29 and 38 years old).
The latest confirmed death is that of Felipe Henrique Alves da Silva, 26, resident of Sorocaba. He died on August 16, and in late November the São Paulo government confirmed the existence of methanol poisoning associated with cocaine.
The confirmed dead in São Paulo are, in addition to Felipe, four men aged 26, 45, 48 and 54, residents of the capital; a 30-year-old woman from São Bernardo do Campo; two men aged 23 and 25 and a 27-year-old woman from Osasco; and a 37-year-old man from Jundiaí.
In the last update made by the Ministry of Health, on October 29, Brazil recorded 59 confirmed cases of methanol poisoning and 44 others were under investigation. São Paulo, Pernambuco, Paraná, Rio Grande do Sul and Mato Grosso have confirmed cases.