A woman in Brazil has suffered blindness after consuming tainted alcohol during a night out with friends, becoming a victim of a recent wave of deadly alcohol poisoning incidents in the country. The poisoning has resulted in the deaths of three individuals, sparking an urgent investigation by authorities to trace the origin of the contaminated drinks.
Among the victims are Bruna Araújo de Souza, Marcos Antônio Jorge Júnior, and Ricardo Lopes Mira, all from Sao Paulo, who fell ill after consuming the tainted beverages. Radharani Domingos, another victim, narrated waking up in a hospital without sight after drinking a Caipirinha cocktail, experiencing a life-altering ordeal.
The methanol poisoning outbreak has affected 225 people, primarily in São Paulo, with authorities uncovering a clandestine alcohol production facility in São Bernardo do Campo responsible for the tainted drinks. The contaminated beverages, mainly gin, vodka, and whiskey, were found to contain high levels of methanol mixed with ethanol, leading to severe health consequences.
Health Minister Alexandre Padilha described the situation as unprecedented in Brazil’s history of methanol poisoning, urging caution when consuming distilled products. The World Health Organization has called for heightened surveillance and preventive measures to address the circulation of contaminated beverages.
Methanol poisoning, caused by the ingestion of the toxic alcohol, has severe consequences, including visual disturbances, dizziness, and in extreme cases, coma and death. The fatality rates of untreated methanol poisoning can reach 20% to 40%, emphasizing the critical need for prompt medical intervention in such cases.