Paraná investigates the first suspected case of methanol poisoning. The notification was made to the Ministry of Health on Friday (3) and involves a 60-year-old man, a resident of Curitiba, who is in serious condition.
According to the Paraná State Department of Health (Sesa), the patient was admitted to a hospital in the capital on Wednesday (1st), after being run over. During the screening, he reported consuming distilled alcohol before the accident.
Sesa reported that during the hospitalization, the clinical condition of man got worse and he had symptoms compatible with methanol poisoning. Until the last update, the patient remained unconscious and in serious condition.
The State and Curitiba Health Secretariats follow the case and await laboratory tests to confirm or discard suspected contamination. According to the agencies, the investigation is still underway and is treated as a priority.
The Paraná Information and Assistance Center (Ciatox) is available to meet notifications of public or private health services. The contact can be made 24 hours a day by 0800 041 0148.
The Secretary of Health of Paraná, Beto Preto, warned the population to the necessary care in the consumption of alcohol, especially the distilled ones. He highlighted the importance of checking labels and packaging and stressed that the goal is not to generate panic but prevent new cases.
In Brazil, at least 60 notifications of suspected methanol poisoning have been registered. São Paulo concentrates most cases, with 42 suspicions and 11 confirmations, as well as a confirmed death and five others in investigation. Pernambuco investigates five cases and two deaths. In the Federal District, there is a case in calculation, while in Bahia a suspicious death was notified.
The Ministry of Health announced the purchase of 150,000 pharmaceutical ethanol ampoules to assist in the treatment of patients. A situation room was also created to monitor cases across the country. The National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) has called international authorities in search of hunger drug, considered effective against methanol poisoning, but not available in Brazil.
