Ondo Killer Drink Death Toll Rises To 29 As Govt Begins Toxicology Tests
The death toll from a suspected poisoning linked to the consumption of locally brewed alcoholic and herbal substances in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State has risen to 29.
The Ondo State Government disclosed that 60 suspected cases had so far been recorded in communities affected by the mysterious deaths, with three victims currently receiving treatment in hospitals and another 27 people under medical observation.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr Banji Awolowo Ajaka, disclosed the figures while giving an update on the incident and the measures being taken by the government to establish the cause of the deaths.
According to the commissioner, about 95 per cent of those affected are males between the ages of 16 and 55, with cases reported mainly in Orita Odigbo, Araromi-Obu, Newtown, Odole, Okele and Oniparaga communities.
The victims reportedly developed symptoms including severe headaches, body pain, general weakness, visual disturbances, difficulty in breathing and altered consciousness. Some of those affected were said to have deteriorated rapidly after developing the symptoms.
Ajaka said the pattern of illness and the reported history of exposure had raised concerns that the victims may have been exposed to a toxic alcoholic substance, stressing, however, that the exact cause of the deaths had not yet been scientifically established.
The commissioner said the government had commenced laboratory and toxicological investigations to determine what caused the deaths.
He disclosed that blood and urine samples had been collected from affected persons for laboratory analysis, while samples of the suspected alcoholic substances had also been obtained and submitted for toxicological examination.
The investigation is being conducted in collaboration with relevant regulatory, health and security agencies, while several suspects connected with the distribution or sale of the suspected substances have reportedly been taken into custody.
As part of its immediate response, the Ondo State Government has imposed a temporary ban on the production and sale of locally brewed alcoholic drinks and alcoholic herbal beverages in the affected local government area.
The government has also urged residents to stay away from alcoholic products obtained from unlicensed or unregulated sources until the investigation is concluded.
Residents who experience symptoms such as blurred or disturbed vision, difficulty breathing, sudden weakness, confusion or loss of consciousness after consuming alcohol have been advised to seek urgent medical attention.
The government further appealed to community leaders and residents to promptly report unusual illnesses and sudden deaths to health authorities to enable early intervention.
Earlier reports indicated that the casualty figure had initially stood at 24 before increasing as authorities continued to collate information from the affected communities. Some victims’ remains have also been withheld from burial for further medical examination, with bodies taken for autopsy as part of efforts to determine the cause of death.
The state government has assured residents that it is working with relevant agencies and partners to establish the source of the suspected poisoning and prevent further loss of lives.
Authorities have continued to caution residents against consuming unregulated alcoholic mixtures while the toxicological and medical investigations are ongoing.