The Ondo State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Banji Ajaka, on Saturday said a locally produced alcoholic substance served at two naming ceremonies has been linked to the deaths of 29 persons and the hospitalisation of several others in communities in Odigbo Local Government Area of the state.
Ajaka, who disclosed this at a press conference in Akure, the state capital, said 121 persons were affected by the suspected poisonous substance.
The commissioner explained that the figure comprised 60 suspected cases, 29 deaths, three persons currently on admission and 27 others under observation.
According to him, the development represented a provisional case-fatality ratio of about 48.3 per cent, with 95 per cent of those affected being males aged between 16 and 55 years.
Ajaka said preliminary investigations showed that the incident was linked to alcoholic-herbal substances consumed during two naming ceremonies held in the affected communities.
He explained that an individual, who was not a member of the family hosting one of the ceremonies, procured the locally-produced alcoholic substance and brought it to the event for guests to consume.
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“The issue emanated from where a family held a naming ceremony. From an investigation, somebody, not even the parents, procured this alcoholic substance from somewhere and brought it for people to drink. That is it, and from merry-making to the other side,” he said.
The commissioner said the investigation had so far established two naming ceremonies in connection with the incident.
“In fact, there are two instances where naming ceremonies were involved, which led to the involvement of people who died,” he stated.
The affected communities, according to him, include New Town, Odole, Okele, Orita Odigbo, Araromi-Obu and Oniparaga.
Following the development, the state government has banned the production and sale of locally-brewed alcoholic and alcoholic-herbal beverages in Odigbo Local Government Area.
Ajaka said the ban followed epidemiological findings linking the deaths to suspected toxic alcoholic mixtures commonly sold in the area.
“Given the severity of the situation and the epidemiological evidence currently available, the government has taken precautionary steps to reduce further exposure,” he said.
He urged residents to report anyone producing or selling such substances to the nearest police station.
The commissioner also confirmed the arrest of a suspect in Araromi-Obu in connection with the production and distribution of the substances.
“I know of someone who has been taken into custody in Araromi-Obu. One person, along with all his products, concoctions here and there, Monkey Tail and whatever, was taken into custody,” Ajaka said.
He said health facilities in Ore and Araromi-Obu had been strengthened with additional personnel, ambulances and medical commodities to manage affected persons.
Ajaka further disclosed that the state government was intensifying efforts to regulate herbal and alternative medicine practices through the Ondo State Alternative Medical Practice Board.
He said the government was also collaborating with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to strengthen the regulation of herbal products and locally brewed substances.
The commissioner warned against the consumption of unregulated herbal preparations, stressing that products claimed to have medicinal benefits could also pose serious health risks.
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