The Bahia State Health Department (Sesab) reported on Saturday (03/01) that it is investigating three suspected cases of methanol poisoning, following a series of intoxications linked to adulterated alcoholic beverages in the interior of the state. So far, seven cases have been confirmed in Bahia, and one death was recorded on Friday (02/01), raising concerns among health authorities. In addition to the confirmed cases, eight others were initially classified as suspected. Of this total, five have already been ruled out after medical and laboratory analysis, including the case of a resident of Ribeira do Pombal.
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Death
The death recorded in the state was that of Vinícius Oliveira Vieira, one of the seven victims of methanol poisoning in Ribeira do Pombal, in the interior of Bahia. He was hospitalized at Couto Maia Hospital in Salvador, where he later died.
New Cases
The confirmation of the first cases in Bahia occurred on December 31, 2025, after a forensic report issued by the Department of Technical Police (DPT) identified the presence of methanol in alcoholic beverages seized in the city of Ribeira do Pombal, as well as in blood samples from seven patients hospitalized with symptoms of poisoning. The Civil Police, in coordination with the Municipal Health Surveillance Department, sealed the warehouse where the beverages were purchased. Alcoholic drinks were also seized from two other establishments in the city.
Vodka Drink
Of the seven people intoxicated in Ribeira do Pombal, six consumed vodka-based drinks at an engagement party. Vinícius had purchased alcoholic beverages from the same warehouse the day before but did not attend the event. He was the first to become ill. Lais Santana Dias, Maria Clara Nascimento de Souza, Maria Viviana Santos Almeida, and Josefa Soares de Almeida, who were hospitalized at Santa Tereza General Hospital in Ribeira do Pombal, were discharged after clinical improvement. Two other patients, who presented more severe conditions, were transferred to Salvador and remain hospitalized at Couto Maia Hospital: Edicleia Andrade de Matos, the bride’s stepmother, who is intubated, and Daniele Barbosa do Carmo Matos, the groom’s cousin.
Methanol
Methanol is a chemical substance used in industrial and household products such as solvents, antifreeze, varnishes, and photocopier fluids. Like the alcohol consumed in beer, wine, and spirits, methanol is a colorless liquid with a smell similar to that of ethanol, but it is much cheaper to produce. This makes it a frequent agent in the adulteration of alcoholic beverages. According to experts, consumers cannot detect adulteration at the time of consumption, as the taste and immediate effects are similar to those of unadulterated drinks. However, the toxic effects of methanol-contaminated beverages typically appear hours later. Common symptoms include mental confusion, blurry or loss of vision, severe abdominal pain, nausea, and shortness of breath.
