60 PERSONS HOSPITALIZED AFTER HERBAL DRINK CONSUMPTION IN ONDO
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BY JENN NOMAMIUKOR
The health commissioner of Ondo State, Dr Banji Ajaka, confirmed that at least 60 people are still getting treatment after drinking possibly poisonous herbal drinks in Odigbo Local Government Area.
The PRESS reported that at least 29 people from two communities, Araromi-Obu and Odigbo town, died after drinking the harmful substance.
The chairman of Odigbo Local Government, Mr Taiwo Adegoroye, said eight people died in Araromi-Obu and 16 in Odigbo, making the total death toll 29.
Ajaka spoke at a press conference in Akure, the state capital, on Sunday. He said the numbers show that 95% of the people affected were men aged between 16 and 55 years.
According to him, the tragic deaths and hospitalisations were recorded across six primary locations: Orita Odigbo, Araromi-Obu, Newtown, Odole, Okele and Oniparaga communities, all in Odigbo LGA.
He said, “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 explained that the victims presented with severe clinical symptoms, including intense headaches, sharp body pains, extreme weakness, visual impairment, respiratory distress and loss of consciousness, with several patients suffering rapid organ deterioration shortly after exposure.
“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, 36 clinical samples of blood and urine, alongside confiscated beverage samples, have been sent for urgent toxicological examination,” he explained.
Ajaka warned residents of the state against consuming unverified or unlicensed alcoholic drinks and urged community leaders to immediately report strange health occurrences or sudden fatalities in their environment.
He advised anyone experiencing blurred vision, breathing difficulty or confusion after consuming alcohol to present themselves at the nearest hospital immediately.
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