At least 60 people are still receiving medical treatment in Ondo State after consuming a suspected poisonous herbal alcoholic drink in Odigbo Local Government Area, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Banji Ajaka, has said.
Ajaka disclosed this on Sunday during a press briefing in Akure, the state capital, while giving an update on the incident, which has so far claimed 29 lives.
The victims were from communities including Orita Odigbo, Araromi-Obu, Newtown, Odole, Okele and Oniparaga.
The commissioner said the incident had affected predominantly young and middle-aged men, noting that about 95 per cent of those affected were males between the ages of 16 and 55.
Ajaka said some victims died within hours of consuming the substance, while others succumbed to the effects within 24 hours.
“There are many victims. At a point, we had up to 60 people on admission at the hospital. We had so many of them on admission, but some people would not even come,” he said.
“It is a rapid thing. Some people died within two hours. At least, most of them died within 24 hours. It is as serious as that.”
According to him, affected persons presented with severe symptoms, including intense headaches, body pains, extreme weakness, impaired vision, difficulty breathing and loss of consciousness.
He added that some patients experienced rapid deterioration of their organs following exposure to the suspected substance.
Ajaka said preliminary clinical and epidemiological findings suggested that the victims had been exposed to a poisonous alcoholic brew, but stressed that laboratory tests were still being conducted to determine the exact substance responsible.
“The clinical presentation and epidemiological trend strongly point toward exposure to a poisonous alcoholic brew, while laboratory evidence is still being processed to establish the exact chemical culprit,” he said.
He disclosed that 36 blood and urine samples collected from patients, as well as samples of the confiscated drinks, had been submitted for urgent toxicological analysis.
The commissioner urged residents to avoid consuming alcoholic beverages whose source, contents or safety could not be verified.
He also called on community leaders to promptly alert health authorities whenever they notice unusual illnesses, suspected poisoning or sudden deaths within their communities.
Ajaka further advised anyone who develops blurred vision, breathing difficulties or confusion after consuming alcohol to seek immediate medical attention at the nearest hospital.
