FDA Warns of Toxic Hand Sanitizer Products/(Updates)

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Reporting on the State of Connecticut’s Summary of COVID-19 cases, deaths, and tests.

A complete listing of all COVID-19 cases and  analyses by age, hospitalizations, deaths, towns and county is reported by the Connecticut State Department of Health. This information can be found by following the link below:

https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/Coronavirus/CTDPHCOVID19summary8262020.pdf

                                                                     

LOCAL RESULTS

                                                                                                              Total Reported

                                                                                                              To Date    Change from        Probable 

                                                                                                                                Yesterday            Cases

                                                                                                            

Westport Residents COVID-19 Positive Reported to the State        335                     +2                     15

Weston Residents COVID-19 Positive Reported to the State            83                     +0                      3

 

FDA Warns of Toxic Hand Sanitizer Products

There has been another warning about hand sanitizers so the WWHD is reminding residents about the Food and Drug Administration’s recent recall of certain hand sanitizers that were found to contain methanol (or wood alcohol).  Methanol can be toxic when absorbed through the skin and can be lethal if ingested.  It is not an acceptable ingredient for hand sanitizers.  The FDA warns consumers that the recalled hand sanitizer products contain dangerous levels of methanol, which can lead to serious health problems.  Substantial methanol exposure can result in nausea, vomiting, headache, blurred vision, permanent blindness, seizures, coma, permanent damage to the nervous system, or death. The FDA notes that their investigation is ongoing but thus far, the recall includes products manufactured by various companies, all in Mexico.   According to the FDA advisory, “Although all persons using these products on their hands are at risk for methanol poisoning, young children who accidently ingest these products and adolescents and adults who drink these products as an alcohol (ethanol) substitute, are most at risk.”

Frequent hand washing can prevent the spread of germs and viruses.  Use soap and warm water, rubbing vigorously, for at least 20 seconds.  However, if soap and water aren’t available, be sure to use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent ethanol (also referred to as ethyl alcohol).

To learn more about the FDA warning and a list of the brands recalled, please see link below:

https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-updates-hand-sanitizers-methanol