The Minister of Health, Alexandre Padilha, said on Tuesday (30) determined the immediate notification of new cases of methanol poisoning.
Since early September, ten cases have been confirmed, including three deaths – all in the state of São Paulo. The intoxications were reported after the consumption of beverages contaminated by the product, which is highly toxic to the human being.
“This immediate notification is a direct channel with what we call Cievs [Centro Nacional de Informações Estratégicas em Vigilância em Saúde] in each state. The ministry follows this work daily, ”he explained.
“So that we can identify not only what is happening in the state of São Paulo, but to identify this in other states of the country, some kind of growth and abnormal clinical and epidemiological behavior that will also reinforce those Federal Police Investigations and the Ministry of Justice ”
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In a press conference alongside Justice Minister Ricardo Lewandowski, Padilha pointed out that the notification must be made in any case of suspected methanol poisoning. “You don’t have to wait for the diagnosis to be closed to make the notification.”
“Anyone looking for a health service reporting signs and symptoms and has a story of alcohol ingest, especially of unknown origin. It is not something she bought and opened at home, saw the seal. In general, it is in a commercial environment away from home, a party of someone, a suspicious case and should already be notified.”
>> Click here and read more about methanol poisoning cases
Numbers
According to the minister, in just one month, almost half of the cases of methanol poisoning accounted for every year was recorded. The historical series of the folder indicates about 20 cases per year notified by health professionals via the Unified Health System (SUS).
“When we pull for August, we have reached 17 notified cases of methanol suspected poisoning. In some, the investigation is being completed. If we get August and September, we have more or less what would happen in the year as a whole: 20 reported cases. In addition, concentrated in a state of the federation.”
“In fact, we have a abnormal situation, unlike anything we have in our historical series,” added the minister.
