At least 48 people have died and seven others have suffered partial or total blindness after consuming suspected locally prepared alcoholic and herbal concoctions in Ondo State, according to an update by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
The agency said 182 cases had been recorded in parts of Odigbo Local Government Area and the Irele Local Government Area, with methanol contamination suspected to be a major factor in the deaths and severe illnesses.
The incident, first reported in early September, affected residents of New Town, Odole, Okele, Orita Odigbo, Araromi-Obu, Oniparaga and Odigbo Town. The highest number of cases was initially reported in Odigbo Town and Araromi-Obu.
In its latest update dated September 18, NAFDAC said 90 people had been hospitalised and discharged, while six remained in hospital. Another 31 people were treated as outpatients.
Five people reportedly became totally blind, while two others suffered partial blindness.
The agency said affected persons experienced symptoms including headaches, general body weakness and pain, visual disturbances, difficulty breathing and altered consciousness. Some patients reportedly deteriorated rapidly.
NAFDAC said it collected 15 unlabeled samples of the suspected alcoholic and herbal concoctions for laboratory, toxicological, chemical and microbiological examinations.
Preliminary laboratory findings indicated that 11 of the samples contained Cannabis indica, while gas chromatography analysis confirmed the presence of high concentrations of methanol.
Methanol is a toxic form of alcohol that can cause severe poisoning. Ingesting it can result in visual impairment, blindness, organ failure and death.
The agency also conducted acute oral toxicity tests using laboratory mice. It said all the samples caused critical illness among the animals, while approximately 50 percent mortality was recorded in six of the 15 samples tested.
NAFDAC, however, said the preliminary findings were subject to further confirmation as additional tests were still being conducted to determine the exact concentration of methanol and identify other possible toxic substances.
“The combination of high mortality in animal testing and confirmed methanol contamination strongly suggests that the samples pose a serious public health risk,” the agency said.
It added that the findings required immediate regulatory intervention to prevent further harm.
NAFDAC said 15 people had so far been arrested in connection with the suspected production, sale and distribution of the locally prepared alcoholic and herbal beverages.
The agency said surveillance, case management, investigation and risk-control measures were ongoing as authorities continued to verify the number of affected people and the geographical spread of the incident.
The latest figures represent a significant increase from the initial report of 31 deaths. The agency had earlier recorded 20 deaths in Odigbo Town and 11 in Araromi-Obu.
NAFDAC commiserated with the families of those who died and warned of the dangers associated with consuming unlabelled or locally prepared alcoholic mixtures whose ingredients and production processes cannot be verified.
The agency said the reported figures remained subject to further verification as investigations and surveillance activities continued.
