Several people were admitted to Sørlandet hospital on Sunday evening with methanol poisoning. – Methanol poisoning is potentially fatal. Those who develop symptoms must contact a doctor as soon as possible, says specialist director Susanne Hernes at the hospital. Those hospitalized come from the Lindesnes region, according to NTB. Fewer than five people admitted There should be fewer than five people, the hospital informs news. – But we are concerned that there are large figures in the dark, says Hernes. She states that the persons were in varying degrees of condition – from seriously ill to mildly ill. – Methanol poisoning is a poisoning that we are very observant about, states Hernes. Symptoms of methanol poisoning Methanol itself can shortly after ingestion cause nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and a mild effect on the central nervous system. The intoxication effect of methanol is minimal. Symptoms: Weakness, headache, confusion and dizziness Visual disturbances, blurred vision and blind spots in the field of vision, can cause permanent visual damage in severe poisoning Rapid breathing and shortness of breath In severe poisoning: Coma Convulsions Respiratory arrest Cardiac arrest Death Source: Health Norway’s poison information Investigation is being started The hospital wishes to have out information that there may be methanol in circulation in the Lindesnes region and possibly in other areas in or outside Southern Norway. The police have started an investigation into the case, they inform news. – On the basis of information from the healthcare system, the police have started an investigation into this case. We have little information, but we are investigating what has come, says Bernt Mushom in the Agder police district. – We have reason to believe that methanol can be traded in Southern Norway, so people should be on the lookout for this poisoning, urges Hernes. Acting mayor Svein Jarle Haugland (KrF) in Lindesnes says they have no overview of what environment this is connected to. – We understand that it is particularly linked to Mandal city, where there is illegal alcohol in circulation. He urges everyone not to drink spirits or alcohol whose content they do not know, as it has not been possible to limit it to an environment right now. – Now we first have to get an overview of the scope, he says. – Indicates that it is “smuggled alcohol” Municipal Superintendent Viggo Lutcherat in Lindesnes says that the investigation will reveal whether it is “smuggled alcohol”, but that it indicates that it is. – In any case, alcohol is not bought in ordinary channels, such as Vinmonopolet and restaurants. We have no indications that it has been distributed in the nightlife, he says. He fears that there is a larger area that is a distribution link, but that the police’s investigation will uncover this. – The warning against buying this type of alcohol on illegal channels should apply to the whole of Agder, he says to news. Municipal superintendent Viggo Lütcherat in Lindesnes says that it is probably “smuggler’s alcohol”. Photo: Elisabeth Sandve / news Difficult to detect Methanol is also known as “wood spirit” and is used in industry, in car products and as a solvent. But it can be found in “smuggler’s alcohol”. – Methanol in beverages can be very, very difficult to detect. You don’t even notice if the methanol is mixed into beverages or not, Hernes explains. The reason for this is that it does not give any special taste or smell when it is mixed with other liquids. This means that one must be very attentive to symptoms. – It doesn’t make you drunk, like normal alcohol does, senior doctor Knut Erik Hovda at Oslo University Hospital tells news. – It is very toxic, he states. Can act as an antidote It is difficult to distinguish between ethanol (ordinary alcohol) and methanol, without using chemical analysis methods. In many cases it is a matter of mixtures of ethanol and methanol. This makes it even more difficult to determine the content of methanol, according to Helse Noreg. It can take time before serious symptoms appear, they further state. To the extent that you mix methanol with another type of alcohol, which is the most common, ordinary alcohol will act partly as an antidote. – Then you will tolerate it a little better, but it will still be the case that when you drink a mixture, the body first breaks down the normal alcohol, and then you are left with what is poison. Then the toxic effects are sometimes delayed, explains the superintendent. Knut Erik Hovda, senior physician at Oslo University Hospital, says that ordinary alcohol partially works as an antidote when it is mixed with methanol. Photo: Emma-Marie B. Whittaker / news It can take 30 hours before you get serious symptoms Methanol is broken down into formic acid in the body, and it is this breakdown product that leads to the serious poisoning symptoms. – Formic acid is very toxic. It damages all cells, and cells in the scalp, brain and visual pathways are especially vulnerable, Hovda explains. Only after 10 to 30 hours will enough formic acid be formed to cause symptoms. It can also come later, if you have consumed regular alcohol on top of it all. “The great imitator” According to Hovda, methanol poisoning is a major problem globally. Thousands are poisoned, and there are large dark figures. – It is called “the great imitator”. It is similar to everything else. Before you have found out what this is, suddenly 10-50 patients have died. During the pandemic, many people mixed methanol into hand sanitizer. Many people drank methanol, especially in Iran, because they thought it could cure the coronavirus early during the pandemic.
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– No alcohol bought in mainstream channels – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
