Ondo Herbal Drink Tragedy: 60 Still Hospitalised As Death Toll Hits 29
…95% of victims are men aged 16–55
No fewer than 60 people are still receiving treatment in hospitals following the consumption of suspected poisonous herbal drinks in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Banji Ajaka, has disclosed.
The commissioner made the disclosure on Sunday at a press conference in Akure, the state capital, amid growing concern over the incident which has so far claimed 29 lives.
The victims were residents of communities including Araromi-Obu and Odigbo town, where several people reportedly fell ill after consuming the suspected poisonous substance.
The Chairman of Odigbo Local Government Area, Taiwo Adegoroye, had earlier disclosed that eight people died in Araromi-Obu while 16 others died in Odigbo. The death toll subsequently rose to 29.
Ajaka said the affected persons were largely males, with about 95 per cent of the victims aged between 16 and 55 years.
According to him, cases were recorded in six locations across Odigbo Local Government Area — Orita Odigbo, Araromi-Obu, Newtown, Odole, Okele and Oniparaga.
“There are many victims. At a point, we had up to 60 people on admission at the hospital. We had so many of them on admission, but some people would not even come.
“It is a rapid thing. Some people died within two hours. At least, most of them died within 24 hours. It is as serious as that,” the commissioner said.
Ajaka explained that the victims presented with severe symptoms, including intense headaches, body pains, extreme weakness, visual impairment, difficulty in breathing and loss of consciousness.
He added that some patients also experienced rapid deterioration of vital organs shortly after exposure to the suspected substance.
The commissioner said preliminary clinical and epidemiological findings pointed to exposure to a poisonous alcoholic brew, but stressed that the exact chemical responsible had yet to be established.
He disclosed that 36 clinical samples of blood and urine, alongside samples of the confiscated beverages, had been sent for urgent toxicological examination.
“The clinical presentation and epidemiological trend strongly point toward exposure to a poisonous alcoholic brew, while laboratory evidence is still being processed to establish the exact chemical culprit,” Ajaka stated.
He urged residents to avoid consuming unverified or unlicensed alcoholic drinks, warning that such products could pose serious health risks.
The commissioner also appealed to community leaders to promptly report unusual health incidents, suspected poisoning or sudden deaths in their communities to relevant authorities.
He advised anyone who develops blurred vision, breathing difficulty or confusion after consuming alcohol to seek immediate medical attention at the nearest hospital.
