Ondo Government says 60 suspected cases have been identified, with 30 deaths recorded as investigations continue into toxic exposure.
The death toll from the mysterious illness linked to the consumption of suspected toxic alcoholic substances in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State has risen to 30, with more than 50 people hospitalised as the state government intensifies efforts to unravel the cause of the deaths.
The development came as the Ondo State Government disclosed that 60 suspected cases had so far been identified across affected communities, with the majority of the victims being males aged between 16 and 55 years.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Banji Awolowo Ajaka, while giving the update in Akure said 29 deaths had been officially captured.
According to him, the affected communities include New Town, Odole, Okele and Orita Odigbo in Odigbo Ward, as well as Araromi-Obu, while a further suspected case had been reported in Oniparaga.
Ajaka said the clinical features recorded among the victims included “headache, generalised body pains, weakness, visual disturbance, difficulty in breathing, and altered consciousness,” with some patients deteriorating rapidly and dying.
The commissioner, however, cautioned against concluding that the alcoholic or herbal substances were responsible for the deaths, stressing that laboratory confirmation was still awaited.
“The pattern of illness and the reported history of exposure have raised a strong epidemiological suspicion of exposure to probable toxic alcoholic substance. However, I want to emphasise this very carefully: We are yet to have laboratory evidence of the cause of deaths. Therefore, all cases remain classified as suspected cases, until the specific toxic agent responsible is identified.”
Ajaka disclosed that 36 biological specimens, including blood and urine samples, had been collected from affected persons and submitted for laboratory analysis, while samples of suspected alcoholic substances recovered from the communities had also been secured for toxicological examination in collaboration with relevant regulatory agencies, including NAFDAC.
He said the government had activated a coordinated emergency response involving the Ministry of Health, affected local government authorities, traditional institutions, security agencies and regulatory bodies, while health teams had been deployed for active case-finding, epidemiological investigations, verbal autopsies, treatment and referral of patients.
The government, he added, had also ordered the closure of suspected alcoholic outlets linked to the incident, while security agencies had commenced investigations into persons suspected of distributing the implicated substances, with several suspects already taken into custody.
“Anyone found to have deliberately produced, adulterated or distributed poisonous substances will be held accountable in accordance with the law,” Ajaka warned.
As a precautionary measure, the Odigbo Local Government authorities have also imposed a temporary ban on the local production and sale of locally brewed alcoholic and alcoholic-herbal beverages across the council area.
Ajaka urged residents to immediately report suspicious alcoholic products to the nearest police station and advised anyone experiencing blurred vision, difficulty breathing, chest pain, sudden weakness, collapse, confusion or loss of consciousness, particularly after consuming an alcoholic substance, to seek medical attention without delay.
“Do not wait for symptoms to become severe. Do not attempt to treat the condition at home. Do not rely on traditional remedies or unverified medications,” he warned.
The commissioner also appealed to residents, community leaders and families to promptly report unusual illnesses and sudden deaths to health authorities, assuring the people of Odigbo that government was working with national and international partners to identify the toxic agent, protect those exposed and prevent further loss of life.
He further appealed to the media and members of the public to avoid spreading unverified claims, photographs or names of alleged victims and suspects, saying the investigation remained ongoing.
“At present, we have strong epidemiological suspicion of a toxic exposure associated with an alcoholic substance, but laboratory confirmation of the specific toxic agent is still pending. We will continue to provide verified information as the investigation progresses. Government will leave no stone unturned in determining what caused these deaths.”
