The Bahia Health Department (Sesab) confirmed the hospitalization of seven people at the Santa Tereza General Hospital, in Ribeira do Pombal, with suspected poisoning due to accidental ingestion of methanol. In a note, the department informed that the patients remain sheltered and under medical observation, with the application of the necessary care protocols. To date, the health status of those admitted has not been disclosed.
The investigation into the causes of the incident has already begun and includes the participation of the Center for Strategic Information and Health Surveillance Response (Cievs-BA), the Center for Toxicological Information (Ceatox-BA) and state and municipal health surveillance. The Civil Police and the Technical Police Department are also following the case. The secretariat highlighted that laboratory tests will be carried out and, if necessary, a specific antidote will be administered.
Epidemiological scenario in Brazil
Between September 26th and December 5th, 2025, Brazil recorded 890 notifications related to methanol poisoning. Of this total, 73 cases were confirmed and 29 were still under investigation at the beginning of December. The report shows that 22 people died as a result of the substance in the country: 10 in São Paulo, five in Pernambuco, three in Paraná, three in Mato Grosso and one in Bahia.
The state of São Paulo leads the number of notifications, with 578 records and 50 confirmations. Pernambuco appears next, with 109 notifications and eight confirmed cases. Other deaths — five in São Paulo, three in Pernambuco and one in Alagoas — remained under investigation until the last report.
Closure of the situation wing
On December 8, the Ministry of Health closed the activities of the situation room that had been monitoring methanol cases in the country since October. The decision, published in the Official Gazette of the Union, was based on a scenario of epidemiological stability, after the last confirmed case was registered on November 26th.
According to the ministry, the states have guaranteed stocks of antidotes and expanded diagnostic capacity. With the reduction in new occurrences, monitoring returns to the routine flow of the Notifiable Diseases Information System (Sinan). The situation room had the collaboration of bodies such as Anvisa, Fiocruz, Federal Police and Opas to coordinate control and investigation actions.
