From the most chic bars of Saint Paul to the positions of the beaches of Rio de Janeirolos Brazilians are under alert by a wave of poisoning by adulterated alcoholic beverages They can be mortal.
The authorities reported this Saturday, October 4 195 registered cases of methanol poisoningand Highly dangerous alcohol that should not be used in distillates. The total exceeds 200 cases and most are still under investigation.
In this sense, the Ministry of Health has already confirmed One dead for the intake of alcoholic beverages, while others 12 deaths are under study.
Eight out of ten cases were recorded in Saint Paulthe richest and most populated state in the country, although there were also cases in others six states And in the capital, Brasilia.
The local press reported Victims hospitalized in coma And the case of a woman who lost vision after drinking three drinks with vodka in a bar in San Pablo.
El fear crece among customers, who avoid distillates such as vodka, gin, whiskey the cachaça, base of the popular caipirinha brazilian.
Brazil is alert to adulterated drinks. Illustrative Photo: Archivo/EFE«I’m not going to drink alcohol this weekend, the thing is worrying,» said Rafael Martínez to AFP, a 30 -year -old architect, while lunching in Gardensa rich Paulista neighborhood where it was already closed a bar.
And he added: «For now I stay with Gaseous Or, at most beerwho say it is tougher to adulterate«.
On Friday night, in a street of traditional bars by Vila Mariana, another neighborhood of San Pablo, the atmosphere was bleak and the premises remained almost empty.
In the search for antidotes
He Origin of adulterated alcohol es a stranger And the Federal Police said this week that he was investigating a possible link with the racketeering.
The Minister of Health, Alexandre Padilha, recommended on Friday not consuming white drinks.
And the Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva government created a «SITUATION ROOM» to face the crisis and try to stock up on a antidotethe pharmaceutical ethanol.
The authorities also seek international donors and suppliers of fomepizolother antidote.
He Methanol It is a highly toxic industrial chemist for humans, whose intake damages the liver and nerves.
A civil policeman observes a bottle of liquor in an operation in San Pablo. Photo: EFE/ ISAAC FONTANANikolaos Loukopoulos, owner of the Greek restaurant «Athenas», on the popular Augusta street of San Pablo, decided to stop selling drinks at least for next week. «Last night nobody bought drinks with distillates,» he said on Friday. «With a beer we are fine in this heat, why take a risk?»
According to Loukopoulos, bars and restaurants usually buy drinks from distributors, which in turn get them from manufacturers. «I buy the same distributors for twenty years, but who can give me guarantees?»
«Odorless and insipid»
In Janeiro Riverwhere the first cases suspected of intoxication were recorded this Saturday, October 4, several restaurants published communications in social networks where they ensure that their alcoholic products are safe.
Thais Flores, a 28 -year -old dentist, reluctantly bought a beer in one of the stalls that serve drinks on Ipanema beach. «I don’t like beer very much, but it was my choice for the last news,» he said.
In Rio de Janeiro, the first cases were recorded this Saturday, October 4. Photo: Archive/APHer friend, Raquel Marques, 29, instead encouraged to ask for a Caipiroska: «I’m scared but we riskthe guy said he bought it in the market. «
The owner of the premises, Fábio de Souza, said that «four people already asked about methanol.» Concerned about the business during the weekend, this 44 -year -old merchant said it allows people to try pure alcohol «to feel more confident.»
But neither he nor his clients knew that he Methanol ES Nodorus.
With AFP information.
