This archive report was first published on 27 June 2020.
Three People Dead, One Permanently Blind After Drinking Hand Sanitizer ¶
Published on June 27, 2020, a tragic incident in New Mexico left three people dead and one permanently blind after they ingested hand sanitizer.
The cases were linked to alcoholism, with authorities noting that hand sanitizer is sometimes consumed for its high alcohol content.
According to the New Mexico Department of Health, the earliest case was reported on May 7, and the rest occurred after May 29, 2020.
"All seven people are believed to have drunk hand sanitizer containing methanol," the Health Department stated.
Health Secretary Kathy Kunkel warned consumers to seek medical care if they think they may have used or consumed hand sanitizer containing methanol.
"An antidote to methanol poisoning is available, but the earlier someone gets treated for methanol poisoning, the better the chance of recovery," she added.
Hand sanitizer has been known to be used to get intoxicated due to its alcohol content, and some people have been known to use it in prisons to start fires.
However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended relaxing restrictions on alcohol-based sanitizer to help combat coronavirus before the pandemic.
