The Ministry of Health announced, this Wednesday (8), that 24 cases of methanol poisoning due to ingestion of adulterated drinks have been confirmed so far in Brazil. 
Five deaths were confirmed, all in São Paulo. Another 11 cases are under investigation (six in São Paulo, one in Mato Grosso do Sul, three in Pernambuco and one in Paraíba).
Notifications
On Monday (6), there were 17 confirmations of methanol contamination and 217 notifications. This number rose to 259 suspects, with 235 currently under investigation.
Another 145 suspects were discarded. Also according to the government, the states of São Paulo, Paraná and Rio Grande do Sul are the only ones that have registered confirmed cases of poisoning by the substance.
Suspicions
Among the confirmed cases, there are 20 people in São Paulo, three in Paraná and one in Rio Grande do Sul.
Regarding the suspicions under investigation, the majority are in São Paulo (181 records). Cases are still being evaluated in:
- Pernambuco (24),
- Paraná (5),
- Rio de Janeiro (5),
- Rio Grande do Sul (4),
- Mato Grosso do Sul (4),
- Piauí (4),
- Holy Spirit (3),
- Goiás (2),
- Acre (1),
- Paraíba (1) and
- Rondônia (1).
