The state of Chihuahua ranks second in the country for the highest number of carbon monoxide poisoning cases this winter season, accounting for 21.3 percent of the national total.
According to the Federal Ministry of Health’s Weekly Report on Health Impacts from Extreme Natural Temperatures, 47 patients were reported with carbon monoxide poisoning from October through January 24. Of these, 13 were in Coahuila, 10 in Chihuahua, six in Veracruz, five in Sonora, four in Durango, four in Nuevo León, two in Chiapas, one in Baja California, one in Hidalgo, and one in Querétaro.
The federal agency also noted that, as of the third week of January, cold-related deaths had been reported in the following states: Chihuahua (2), Chiapas (1), Coahuila (1), and Tamaulipas (1).
According to the Ministry of Health, the current cold season began on October 5, 2025, and will end on March 21.
Carbon monoxide gas, which is invisible and odorless, can be deadly. It can kill people in their homes while they sleep, seeping undetected from generators. It can accumulate in the walls of enclosed garages, leaking from cars that residents leave running for warmth or electricity during a storm.
Inhaling carbon monoxide causes the gas to accumulate in the blood and bind to hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to the tissues throughout the body.
When carbon monoxide binds to hemoglobin, it “pulls oxygen out” of the protein, preventing tissues and organs from receiving the oxygen they need to function properly, the federal agency emphasized.
In addition, carbon monoxide exposure can also cause inflammation and cell damage in vital organs, particularly the heart and brain.
A person exposed to high concentrations of the gas for an extended period can lose consciousness and stop breathing, leading to death. Inhaling the toxic gas can also cause a drop in blood pressure or induce life-threatening heart problems, he added. Those who survive carbon monoxide poisoning may experience long-term neurological problems, such as impaired memory, motor difficulties, and symptoms of anxiety or depression.
Source: diario
