In Brazil, a tragic incident involving tainted alcohol has left a woman blind after consuming drinks with friends at a bar. This incident is part of a larger issue of methanol poisoning that has claimed the lives of three individuals. Authorities are actively investigating the source of the contaminated drinks, leading them to uncover an illegal alcohol production facility that is suspected to be connected to the deaths.
One of the victims, Bruna Araújo de Souza, passed away after drinking a vodka-based beverage, while two others, Marcos Antônio Jorge Júnior and Ricardo Lopes Mira, also succumbed to the poisoning in September. Another affected individual, Radharani Domingos, shared her harrowing experience of waking up in a hospital with blindness after consuming a Caipirinha cocktail during a night out.
Reports indicate a total of 225 confirmed cases of methanol poisoning, primarily in São Paulo, where authorities recently discovered an underground alcohol factory that purchased contaminated ethanol from gas stations to produce the lethal drinks. The tainted beverages, including gin, vodka, and whiskey, contained high levels of methanol mixed with ethanol, leading to severe health repercussions.
Health Minister Alexandre Padilha described the situation as unprecedented in Brazil’s history of methanol poisoning and advised caution when consuming distilled products of unknown origin. The World Health Organization has urged member states to enhance surveillance, clinical management, and public awareness to prevent further incidents of contaminated beverages.
Methanol poisoning, caused by the ingestion of methanol, a toxic alcohol, can have severe consequences, including blindness and even death. Symptoms include dizziness, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea, with potential complications such as coma and nervous system damage if left untreated. The fatality rates associated with methanol poisoning range from 20% to 40%, highlighting the critical need for vigilance in handling alcoholic beverages to prevent such tragedies.