A recent update from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) revealed that the mass illnesses and deaths were recorded in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State. The affected communities include New Town, Odole, Okele, Orita Odigbo, Araromi-Obu and Oniparaga, with Odigbo Town and Araromi-Obu recording the highest number of cases.
According to NAFDAC, 48 people have died and five others have been totally blinded, while two other affected persons suffered partial blindness. The agency also reported that 90 affected persons were admitted and subsequently discharged, while 31 were treated as outpatients and six remained hospitalised.
NAFDAC said the clinical symptoms recorded among affected persons included headache, generalised body weakness and pain, visual disturbances, difficulty in breathing and altered consciousness, with some cases deteriorating rapidly. The incident had extended beyond Odigbo to Irele Local Government Area, adding that all figures remained subject to ongoing verification.
An earlier report had indicated that 29 people had died from the suspected herbal poisoning incident in Odigbo, with 60 suspected cases recorded at the time. NAFDAC said 15 unlabelled samples of the suspected concoction were subjected to acute oral toxicity testing, chemical analysis through gas chromatography and microbiological examination.
Preliminary findings showed that 11 of the 15 samples tested positive for Cannabis indica, while gas chromatography confirmed the presence of high concentrations of methanol – a highly toxic substance that causes blindness, organ failure, and death. The agency added that acute oral toxicity tests recorded approximately 50 per cent mortality in laboratory mice across six of the samples analysed.
NAFDAC disclosed that 15 people had been arrested in connection with the suspected production, sale and distribution of the implicated beverages. Surveillance, case management, and risk-control measures are actively ongoing across the affected communities, in coordination with relevant public health authorities.
NAFDAC warned members of the public against purchasing or consuming unlicensed, unregistered and locally prepared alcoholic or herbal concoctions of unknown composition. The agency urged anyone experiencing sudden visual disturbances, severe headache, difficulty in breathing or altered consciousness after consuming such substances to seek immediate medical attention.
Key points
- 48 people have died and five others have been totally blinded
- NAFDAC confirmed the presence of high concentrations of methanol in the concoctions
- 15 people have been arrested in connection with the suspected production, sale and distribution of the implicated beverages
