A 30-year-old woman, Bruna Araújo de Souza, has become the third person to die from a wave of methanol poisoning that is shaking the Brazilian state of São Paulo.
Round Reports reports that the tragic news was announced by local health officials on Tuesday, October 7, 2025.
Health officials believe she drank tainted vodka sold at a local bar, the same kind of drink that has already claimed two other lives.
Bruna was rushed to hospital in critical condition after falling ill more than a week ago. Tests later showed methanol, a toxic chemical normally found in cleaning products and fuel, in her system.
Her boyfriend, who also drank from the same bottle, survived after emergency treatment. Sadly, doctors declared Bruna brain dead a few days later.
Before her death, two men, Marcos Antônio Jorge Júnior (46), and Ricardo Lopes Mira (54) had also died from the same kind of poisoning in São Paulo city.
So far, Brazil’s Health Ministry has confirmed 225 cases of methanol poisoning, mostly in São Paulo State. The authorities have shut down 11 bars and shops and seized over 10,000 bottles of alcohol suspected to be fake or contaminated.
Officials are still trying to trace the source of the deadly drinks, unsure whether the contamination was accidental or deliberate. Residents and tourists have been urged to avoid unlabelled or unsealed drinks sold cheaply in bars and stores.
A Nation on Alert
Brazil’s Health Minister, Alexandre Padilha, described the outbreak as "abnormal and unlike anything else we’ve ever seen." Police and health teams are working around the clock to find where the toxic drinks are coming from.
In downtown São Paulo, fear is spreading among bar owners. "Clients are scared.We now tell everyone 'don’t order cocktails unless you’re sure what’s in them'," said one bar manager near the busy Paulista Avenue.
Even Brazilian rapper Hungria has fallen victim. He posted a photo of himself in hospital, warning fans: "If you feel thirsty, find a safe place to drink."
What Exactly Is Methanol?
Methanol is a type of industrial alcohol used in cleaning fluids, antifreeze, and fuel. It looks and tastes like normal alcohol but is deadly to humans.
Experts say even small amounts can kill. The body mistakes methanol for regular alcohol, but when it breaks it down, it produces formic acid, which attacks the eyes, brain, and other organs. Victims may feel drunk or have a headache at first, and only realise something is wrong when it’s too late.
Dr Christopher Morris, a toxicologist from Newcastle University, explained: "The brain and eyes are very vulnerable. Methanol poisoning can lead to blindness, coma, and death."
Not the First Time
This isn’t Brazil’s first encounter with deadly fake drinks. In 1999, at least 51 people died in Bahia State after drinking contaminated alcohol. And just three years ago, in 2022, 54 people died in neighbouring Peru from a similar outbreak.
Across the world, thousands die every year from methanol poisoning, most often in countries where fake alcohol is sold cheaply without proper regulation.
According to Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), a medical charity, many victims are poor locals or unsuspecting tourists who don’t realise what they’re drinking.
Can It Be Treated?
Doctors say quick treatment is the only chance of survival. Victims must get to the hospital immediately. There, doctors can give ethanol or fomepizole, medicines that block the body from converting methanol into deadly chemicals. In serious cases, patients need dialysis to clean their blood.
Professor Alastair Hay from the University of Leeds said: "Ordinary alcohol can actually save lives if used correctly in hospital. It slows down the poison so the body can get rid of it."
Dr Knut Erik Hovda from MSF added: "People can die from a very small dose of methanol. But if you get help early, you can survive even after taking a lot."
Warning for Travellers
The United Kingdom (UK) Foreign Office had warned travellers sometime in November, 2024 to be careful with locally made or free alcoholic drinks, especially in tourist areas. "If the label looks strange, or the taste feels off, don’t drink it," the advisory reads.
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