Brazil receives 2,500 vials of methanol antidote
The Brazilian Ministry of Health on Thursday (Oct. 9) received the first shipment of 2,500 vials of fomepizole, used as antidote to treat patients with methanol in their bodies. The presence of the toxic substance was detected in adulterated alcoholic beverages in more than a dozen Brazilian states.
This is the first shipment of this antidote to arrive in Brazil. The distribution of the first 1,500 vials of fomepizole begins on Thursday (9), with priority given to the state of São Paulo, which has the highest number of cases. The remainder of the batch will be sent to 10 other states with confirmed cases. States may request new shipments as cases increase in number.
Pharmaceutical ethanol
In addition to fomepizole, another substance capable of reversing poisoning is pharmaceutical ethanol, which can be administered by healthcare teams even before confirmation of the condition by laboratory tests.
The ministry will receive 12 thousand ampules of this type of antidote as a donation from the Brazilian company Cristália Produtos Químicos e Farmacêuticos. The vials will be added to the 4,300 already delivered to public hospitals.
