By Attah Ede
The Ondo State Government has confirmed the death of 29 people from suspected poisoning linked to the consumption of alcoholic substances in Odigbo Local Government Area.
The Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Banji Ajaka, announced this in a chat with newsmen in Akure on Saturday.
He further disclosed that there were 60 suspected cases from the incident.
He explained that three people were currently on admission in hospitals, while 27 others remained under medical observation.
Ajaka said 95 per cent of those affected were males aged between 16 and 55, with cases recorded mainly in Orita Odigbo, Araromi-Obu, Newtown, Odole, Okele and Oniparaga communities.
According to him, the symptoms included headache, body pain, weakness, visual disturbance, difficulty in breathing and altered consciousness, with some patients deteriorating rapidly.
“The pattern of illness and reported history of exposure have raised strong epidemiological suspicion of exposure to a probable toxic alcoholic substance.
“However, we are yet to have laboratory evidence of the cause of the deaths. So far, 36 blood and urine samples had been collected for laboratory analysis, and samples of suspected alcoholic substances had also been submitted for toxicological investigations,” he maintained.
Ajaka said the state government had imposed a temporary ban on the production and sale of locally brewed alcoholic and alcoholic herbal beverages in the affected local government area.
He said the investigation was being conducted in collaboration with relevant regulatory and security agencies, adding that several suspects had been taken into custody.
