Consumption Of Toxic Drinks In Ondo: Death Toll Rises To 49, Spreads To Other LGs

 

By Ayodele Oni

Anxiety and fear have gripped residents of southern part of Ondo state as death toll from the suspected consumption of toxic alcoholic drinks and locally produced drink known as ‘Monkey Tail’  continue to rise with 49 confirmed as at Wednesday.

The latest figure represents an increase from the 38 deaths initially recorded in Odigbo Local Government Area of the state, where the incident initially happened.

The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Banji Ajaka, who disclosed this on Wednesday night, said the number of affected persons has now climbed to 170.

He explained that the latest deaths were recorded in Irele Local Government Area of the state, where eight persons have died from suspected poisoning.

Ajaka disclosed that health authorities have deployed response teams to Irele LGA and other affected communities to conduct surveillance, manage cases and trace the source of the suspected toxic substance.

The Commissioner confirmed that government was yet to establish whether the suspected poisoning came from one source or multiple sources.

 “So, all the people that have been affected altogether now is about 170, those that have been admitted and those that have died.

“We are always fast about it wherever and whenever we hear reports of the issue. Our teams are already in Irele as I’m talking to you now.”

Ajaka revealed that the government was working with various agencies including the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) as part of the investigation.

According to him, the outbreak has also been discussed at a national meeting involving state health commissioners and officials of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).

The Commissioner stated that the investigation would continue until the source of the suspected poisonous substance was identified.

Mr Ajaka had previously attributed the deaths to the consumption of locally produced alcoholic and alcoholic-herbal substances.

The latest figures follow an earlier outbreak reported in Odigbo LGA of the state, where 29 deaths had initially been recorded.

The affected communities include New Town, Odole, Okele, Orita Odigbo, Araromi-Obu and Oniparaga.

The state government has subsequently banned the production and sale of locally brewed alcoholic and alcoholic-herbal drinks in Odigbo as a precautionary measure.