The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has confirmed that 48 people have died following the consumption of locally prepared alcoholic and herbal concoctions suspected to be contaminated with methanol in Ondo State. The agency also said 182 people were affected, with some suffering severe complications, including blindness.
NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday, September 18. She said the incident affected communities including New Town, Odole, Okele, Orita Odigbo, Araromi-Obu and Oniparaga in Odigbo Local Government Area.
Adeyeye said investigations showed that 90 affected persons had been treated and discharged, while six remained hospitalised and 31 were treated as outpatients. She added that five people had reportedly become totally blind, while two others suffered partial blindness. Fifteen persons have also been arrested over the suspected production, sale and distribution of the implicated beverages.
According to NAFDAC, laboratory tests on 15 samples detected high concentrations of methanol, while 11 samples also contained Cannabis indica. Toxicological tests further showed significant toxicity in several samples, including mortality in laboratory animals exposed to some of them. The agency said further testing was underway to determine the exact methanol concentration and identify other possible toxic substances.
NAFDAC warned that methanol is highly toxic and can cause severe poisoning, blindness, organ failure and death when consumed. The agency said the findings strongly indicated a serious public health risk and called for immediate regulatory intervention while investigations and confirmatory analyses continue.
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