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Open Access 01-12-2020 | Coronavirus | Research Letter

Double trouble: methanol outbreak in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic in Iran—a cross-sectional assessment

Authors: Hossein Hassanian-Moghaddam, Nasim Zamani, Ali-Asghar Kolahi, Rebecca McDonald, Knut Erik Hovda

Published in: Critical Care | Issue 1/2020

Excerpt

Iran has been the epicenter of COVID-19 in the Middle East, with a total of 120,198 infected cases and 8556 deaths as of June 10 [1]. The pandemic has been complicated by the co-occurrence of a large methanol outbreak in Iran, seemingly triggered by false claims that consumption of disinfectants and alcohols could prevent and treat COVID-19 infection. According to local news, the ensuing rise in ethanol demand made bootleggers decolorate industrial alcohols containing pyridine (to deter from consumption) using bleach, before selling them as regular ethanol to Iranians. …

Iran report on Coronavirus cases: 177,938; deaths 8,556. Available through: https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/iran/. Accessed 10 June 2020.

Rostrup M, Edwards JK, Abukalish M, Ezzabi M, Some D, et al. Correction: the methanol poisoning outbreaks in Libya 2013 and Kenya 2014. PLoS One. 2016;11(6):e0157256.CrossRef

Alcohol and COVID-19: what you need to know. Available through: http://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/health-emergencies/coronavirus-covid-19/technical-guidance/2020/alcohol-and-covid-19-what-you-need-to-know,-7-april-2020. Accessed 11 June 2020.

During this coronavirus pandemic, ‘fake news’ is putting lives at risk: UNESCO. Available through: https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/04/1061592. Accessed 18 May 2020.

Hassanian-Moghaddam H, Nikfarjam A, Mirafzal A, et al. Methanol mass poisoning in Iran: role of case finding in outbreak management. J Public Health. 2015;37:354–9.CrossRef

Hassanian-Moghaddam H, Zamani N, Roberts DM, et al. Consensus statements on the approach to patients in a methanol poisoning outbreak. Clin Toxicol. 2019;57(12):1129–36.CrossRef

Title: Double trouble: methanol outbreak in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic in Iran—a cross-sectional assessment
Authors: Hossein Hassanian-Moghaddam
Nasim Zamani
Ali-Asghar Kolahi
Rebecca McDonald
Knut Erik Hovda
Publication date: 01-12-2020
Publisher: BioMed Central
Keywords: Coronavirus
Intoxication
COVID-19
Published in: Critical Care / Issue 1/2020
Electronic ISSN: 1364-8535
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13054-020-03140-w

ACC 2024 Congress

Springer Medicine

Double trouble: methanol outbreak in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic in Iran—a cross-sectional assessment

Excerpt

ACC 2024 Congress

Springer Medicine

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