Brazil: Third person dies from methanol poisoning in São Paulo

A 30-year-old woman has become the third person to die from methanol poisoning in the Brazilian state of São Paulo, as the authorities investigate the source of the tainted drinks thought to be making people ill.

Bruna Araújo de Souza died after consuming a vodka drink at a bar more than a week ago, according to officials in the city of São Bernardo. It comes after health officials announced the deaths of two men.

There has been a total of 225 confirmed cases of methanol poisoning in Brazil so far, according to the health ministry’s latest update. Most of these have been in São Paulo.

At least 11 businesses have been closed and more than 10,000 bottles of alcohol seized by authorities.

It is unclear whether the contamination was intentional or accidental, and people are being asked to avoid consuming drinks without labels, safety seals or tax stamps.

Methanol is a type of alcohol commonly found in cleaning products, fuel and antifreeze. It is highly poisonous, even in small amounts.

Symptoms of methanol poisoning are similar to a hangover, meaning it can be hard for a person to know if they have been affected.

Ms Souza was hospitalised in a critical condition and tests showed she had methanol in her system, as did her boyfriend, according to an obituary posted online. She was later confirmed to be brain dead.

The two men who have died have been named in Brazilian media as Marcos Antônio Jorge Júnior and Ricardo Lopes Mira. They are both from the city of São Paulo.

Mira, 54, died on 16 September, having fallen ill a few days before, while Júnior, 46, died on 2 October after drinking vodka in a bar.

Both São Paulo state and national health officials say they are investigating other suspected methanol poisoning deaths.

The manager of a bar near Paulista Avenue, one of the busiest areas in the city of São Paulo, told the Associated Press: “Clients have been worried, and we’re advising them it’s better not to drink cocktails.”

Among those who have been hospitalised with suspected methanol poisoning is the Brazilian rapper Hungria, who posted a picture of himself in hospital on social media with a caption saying “if you feel thirsty, find a safe place to drink”.

Brazil’s Health Minister Alexandre Padilha has described the situation as “abnormal and unlike anything else in our history regarding methanol poisoning in the country”.

This is not the first time Brazil has had to deal with an outbreak of methanol poisoning. At least 51 people died in the northeast region of Bahia in 1999.

More recently, at least 54 people died in 2022 during an outbreak in neighbouring Peru.

Thousands of people suffer from methanol poisoning each year, according to medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) – with the majority of outbreaks happening in Asia.

Lack of regulations and awareness by the public, including tourists, are among the main reasons given for why these outbreaks take place.