New information regarding the methanol poisoning incident.

The Hanoi City Food Safety and Hygiene Department has reported on the results of the investigation and monitoring of methanol poisoning patients in Trat Cau village, Tien Phong commune, Thuong Tin district, Hanoi City.

Previously, the Poison Control Center at Bach Mai Hospital admitted four patients with methanol poisoning (industrial alcohol), including one fatality.

Illustrative image.

Following the incident, the investigation and monitoring team collected two samples of apple cider (one from the family hosting the wedding and one from the home of one of the five patients) and sent them to a testing agency. The remaining wine from the wedding party has been sealed pending the test results.

In addition, four patients with methanol poisoning had blood methanol levels ranging from 51 mg/dL to 188.8 mg/dL. The apple cider vinegar is also suspected of being the cause of the poisoning.

Regarding the above incident, the Hanoi City Food Safety and Hygiene Department requests that units and localities continue to monitor and investigate the methanol poisoning situation in their areas, while also tracking the condition of patients, promptly detecting suspected cases of methanol poisoning, organizing timely emergency care and treatment, and reporting according to regulations.

In addition, relevant units and localities are conducting surveys and statistics on alcohol production and business establishments, checking the origin of alcohol, and organizing the traceability of alcohol products related to patients with methanol poisoning.

In addition, the Food Safety Sub-Department also requested the Health Department of Thuong Tin District to advise the District People's Committee to direct relevant units to strengthen inspection and supervision of food safety at establishments producing and trading alcoholic beverages, focusing on artisanal distilleries, mixed alcoholic beverages in restaurants, street food stalls, beverage shops, eateries, grocery stores, etc.

Regarding this matter, the Food Safety Department of the Ministry of Health requests the Hanoi Department of Health to coordinate with the Hanoi Department of Industry and Trade to investigate and prevent the use and circulation of the aforementioned alcoholic product in the area.

The Hanoi Department of Health, in coordination with the Department of Industry and Trade and other relevant agencies in the area, is strengthening inspections and supervision of food safety at alcohol production and trading establishments, focusing on small-scale alcohol production and trading establishments, especially those producing homemade alcohol.

Authorities have promptly prevented the circulation of unsafe, adulterated, and unlabeled alcoholic beverages of unknown origin, posing a health risk to consumers.

Regarding methanol poisoning, the Poison Control Center at Bach Mai Hospital has recently been receiving numerous cases of methanol poisoning, many of which involved severe cases and resulted in death.

Analyzing cases of alcohol poisoning, Dr. Nguyen Trung Nguyen, Director of the Poison Control Center, stated that white liquor mixed with industrial methanol is the leading cause of poisoning, followed by liquors infused with poisonous forest herbs, water chestnuts, animal parts, etc.

Methanol is very similar to regular ethanol (alcohol distilled from grains), even sweeter and easier to drink, making it difficult to distinguish between the two. When first consumed, patients also experience a similar feeling to being drunk, leading to easy confusion.

However, about 1-2 days later, patients may experience blurred vision, drowsiness, rapid and deep breathing, seizures, and coma. By the time they arrive at the hospital, most have brain damage, blindness, and hypotension, putting them in critical condition.

At the Poison Control Center, the mortality rate for methanol poisoning patients is approximately 30%. In lower-level medical facilities, this figure can even reach 50%. Even if patients survive, they will suffer severe long-term consequences.

Common symptoms of methanol poisoning include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or abdominal pain, headache, low blood pressure, dizziness or disorientation, cyanosis of the lips and fingernails, agitated behavior, blurred or unclear vision, blindness, difficulty breathing, seizures, coma, and death.

Symptoms of methanol poisoning usually appear within 30 minutes of ingestion, but may be delayed depending on the amount of alcohol consumed. The poisoning typically manifests in two stages: a latent stage (lasting from a few hours to 30 hours) and a subsequent stage of more pronounced symptoms. Because the initial symptoms are often subtle and mild, they are frequently overlooked and ignored by the patient.

According to Vu Cao Cuong, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Health, methanol poisoning is not a new problem and requires the continued implementation of various solutions to minimize unfortunate poisoning incidents.

"We need to continue strengthening propaganda and guidance to raise people's awareness and responsibility in the production and business of alcohol, and to avoid alcohol abuse. Absolutely do not use strange animals or plants of unknown species or origin to soak in alcohol for consumption; do not drink alcohol of unknown origin or without labels."

"In addition, the city's authorities continue to strengthen inspections, checks, and supervision of food safety at alcohol production and business establishments, especially small-scale, artisanal distilleries; promptly preventing unsafe alcoholic beverages from circulating in the market," Mr. Vu Cao Cuong emphasized.

Source: https://baodautu.vn/ha-noi-thong-tin-moi-ve-vu-ngo-doc-methanol-d220857.html