The death toll from the suspected toxic alcoholic and herbal concoctions that recently spread to Irele Local Government Area of Ondo State has risen to 48, with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) now reporting high concentrations of toxic methanol in samples of the suspected drinks.
The latest disclosure is an update to the health crisis first reported in parts of Odigbo Local Government Area earlier in September and subsequently extended to Irele, where Idogun and Gbogunron communities were identified as affected areas by the Ondo State Government.
In its latest update signed by Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, NAFDAC said 182 cases had so far been recorded across the affected areas.
Five victims reportedly became totally blind, while another two suffered partial blindness.
The agency said the initial reports recorded 31 deaths – 20 in Odigbo Town and 11 in Araromi-Obu – but the figure increased as investigations, medical reporting and surveillance expanded.
Affected communities in Odigbo include Odigbo Town, Araromi-Obu, New Town, Odole, Okele, Orita Odigbo and Oniparaga, while Irele Local Government Area was subsequently included among locations reporting cases.
NAFDAC said 90 of the affected persons had been admitted and discharged from hospital, while six remained hospitalised.
Another 31 were treated as outpatients, with other victims experiencing different degrees of illness and complications.
Reported symptoms include headaches, generalised weakness and body pain, visual disturbances, breathing difficulties and altered consciousness. Some patients reportedly deteriorated rapidly after developing symptoms.
The latest investigation has also led to the arrest of 15 people over the suspected production, sale and distribution of the implicated locally prepared alcoholic and herbal beverages.
Methanol detected in suspected drinks
As part of efforts to establish what caused the deaths and severe illnesses, NAFDAC subjected samples of the suspected concoctions to laboratory and toxicological examinations.
The agency said 15 unlabeled samples underwent toxicological, microbiological and chemical screening.
Acute oral toxicity tests were also conducted on laboratory mice in accordance with NAFDAC’s standard operating procedures and OECD guidelines.
Preliminary results showed that all the samples caused critical illness in the test animals, while approximately 50 per cent mortality was recorded in six of the 15 samples.
NAFDAC said the critically ill mice recovered after 24 hours of administration but warned that exposure to a second dose could potentially result in death.
Chemical screening also detected Cannabis indica in 11 samples, while gas chromatography confirmed the presence of high concentrations of methanol.
Methanol is a highly toxic form of alcohol. When ingested, it can cause severe poisoning, including damage that may result in blindness, organ failure and death.
NAFDAC said the combination of the mortality observed during animal testing and the confirmed presence of methanol strongly indicated that the suspected products posed a serious public health risk.
However, the agency stressed that the laboratory findings are preliminary and that further confirmatory testing is required before the investigation can establish the precise concentration of methanol and determine whether other toxic substances were present.
“Further confirmatory testing is ongoing to quantify methanol concentration and identify other possible toxic agents,” the agency said in its update.
Investigation continues
The development comes a day after the Ondo State Government confirmed that the crisis had affected both Odigbo and Irele local government areas.
Ondo State Commissioner for Health, Banji Ajaka, had said 182 cases were reported at medical facilities across the two local government areas as of September 16, with Irele emerging as the latest flashpoint through cases reported in Idogun and Gbogunron.
The state government had linked the deaths to consumption of substances suspected to contain methanol, while investigations involving relevant health and security agencies continued.
NAFDAC’s latest findings now provide preliminary laboratory evidence supporting the methanol-poisoning concern, although the agency has cautioned that the investigation is not yet conclusive.
Surveillance, case management, forensic investigation and risk-control measures remain ongoing as authorities work to identify the source of the suspected contamination and prevent additional exposure.
NAFDAC said the reported figures remain subject to verification as investigations and surveillance continue.
