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. This follows the deaths of two men earlier this month.
There have been a total of 225 confirmed cases of methanol poisoning in Brazil to date, with the majority concentrated in São Paulo. Authorities have closed at least 11 establishments and seized over 10,000 bottles of alcohol linked to the outbreak.
The exact cause of the contamination—whether accidental or intentional—remains unclear. Citizens are being urged to refrain from consuming drinks that lack labels, safety seals, or tax stamps.
Methanol, a toxic form of alcohol found in cleaning products and fuel, can be deadly even in small quantities. Symptoms often mimic those of a hangover, making it hard for victims to identify their condition.
Ms. Souza was hospitalized in critical condition, with tests confirming methanol in her system. Her boyfriend also tested positive, and she was later pronounced brain dead. The two men who previously died, identified as Marcos Antônio Jorge Júnior and Ricardo Lopes Mira, had also shown symptoms of methanol poisoning.
Brazilian health officials are now investigating other suspected poisoning deaths in what Health Minister Alexandre Padilha has described as an alarming situation, unprecedented in the country’s history.
Past outbreaks of methanol poisoning include a tragic incident in 1999 in Bahia, where 51 people lost their lives, and a similar crisis in Peru last year that resulted in at least 54 deaths.
Medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières has reported that thousands of cases of methanol poisoning occur globally each year, largely in the Asian region, often exacerbated by a lack of regulatory oversight and public awareness.
