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Methanol outbreak in the Czech Republic in the year 2012 - almost two years later

Publication at First Faculty of Medicine |
2014

Abstract

Almost two years ago, in autumn 2012, a large methanol outbreak was registered in the Czech Republic (CR). The first case was registered in September 2012 in Moravian city Havířov.

The source was connected with illegal production and sale of adulterated spirits. About 50 dead and more than 150 cases of methanol intoxications have been reported since September 2012.

Some cases of intoxications, connected with old methanol sources distributed in 2012, have been registered up to now. Not all of total amount of prepared methanolic drinks has been found and hundreds liters of toxic methanol have remained in stores or in households.

On the other hand, many people intoxicated during this outbreak and classified as "fully recovered" by their hospital discharge, have suffered by sequels of their intoxication at present (visual and nervous system disturbances) and their number has been increasing.