The death toll from the consumption of a suspected poisonous herbal drink in Ondo State has risen to 49, with about 170 people affected by the outbreak.
The health crisis, initially recorded in Araromi-Obu and Odigbo communities in the Odigbo Local Government Area, has spread to Irele Local Government Area, where eight deaths have so far been reported.
The latest development was confirmed on Wednesday by the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Banji Ajaka, who said the number of affected persons included those hospitalised and those who had died.
The commissioner said eight people had been confirmed dead in Irele as of Tuesday night, describing the area as the latest major hotspot of the crisis.
Speaking with our correspondent on the telephone, Ajaka said, “As we are now, Irele is where we have a serious issue. Our people were there and many people have died. About eight people have been recorded to have died as of last night.
“So, all the people that have been affected altogether now are about 170, those that have been admitted and those that have died.”
Ajaka attributed the health crisis to the consumption of ethanol by victims and said the state government had intensified efforts to prevent the incident from spreading to other parts of the state.
He said medical and health personnel, working with other relevant stakeholders, had been deployed to the affected communities to respond to the situation.
“We are always fast about it. Wherever and whenever we hear reports of the issue, our teams are already in Irele as I’m talking to you now,” the commissioner added.
The latest figure represents a sharp increase from the initial 24 deaths reported in Araromi-Obu and Odigbo. The Chairman of Odigbo LGA, Taiwo Adegoroye, had earlier said eight people died in Araromi-Obu, while 16 others died in Odigbo. The toll later rose to 27 before reaching 49.
Adegoroye, however, said the situation had subsided in the two affected communities following interventions by medical teams from the state and local governments.
Meanwhile, the Ondo State Police Command has arrested a man identified as Oloruntoba Babatunde, popularly known as “Meko,” over the production of a herbal liquid suspected to be connected with the health crisis.
The command also arrested 14 other persons for allegedly violating a local government directive banning the sale of herbal products in the affected area.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, said the command had commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
According to the police, Babatunde was suspected of producing substances believed to contain methanol and was assisting investigators with the ongoing probe.
The command said the bodies of the deceased were undergoing medical and forensic procedures as investigations continued, adding that further updates would be provided as new findings emerged.