ONDO HERBAL DRINK CRISIS LEAVES 60 HOSPITALISED AS DEATH TOLL HITS 29

At least 60 people are currently receiving medical treatment in Ondo State after consuming suspected poisonous herbal alcoholic drinks in Odigbo Local Government Area, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Banji Ajaka, has disclosed. The development comes after the death toll from the incident rose to 29, with victims reported across several communities in the council area.

Ajaka, who disclosed the latest figures during a press conference in Akure on Sunday, said those affected were mainly males between the ages of 16 and 55, accounting for about 95 per cent of the reported cases. The affected locations include Orita Odigbo, Araromi-Obu, Newtown, Odole, Okele and Oniparaga communities, where residents have been dealing with the consequences of the suspected poisoning.

The commissioner said some of the victims developed serious symptoms shortly after consuming the drinks, including severe headaches, body pains, extreme weakness, impaired vision, difficulty breathing and loss of consciousness. He added that the condition of some victims deteriorated rapidly, with some reportedly dying within hours of exposure, while many others required hospitalisation.

According to Ajaka, the pattern of illness and the circumstances surrounding the incident have raised strong suspicion that the victims were exposed to a poisonous alcoholic brew. However, he stressed that the exact substance responsible had yet to be established, as laboratory investigations were still ongoing. He said 36 blood and urine samples, alongside samples of the suspected beverages, had been submitted for urgent toxicological analysis.

The commissioner warned residents against consuming alcoholic drinks from unverified or unlicensed sources and urged community leaders to promptly report unusual illnesses or sudden deaths. He also advised anyone who develops blurred vision, breathing difficulties or confusion after consuming alcohol to seek medical attention immediately.