By Benson Daniel
The death toll from suspected poisonous alcohol consumption in Ondo State has risen to 49, with the health emergency spreading from Odigbo to neighbouring Irele Local Government Area.
The state government said 170 people have now been affected by the incident, which was initially reported in communities within Odigbo Local Government Area. Eight deaths have since been recorded in Irele, prompting health authorities to intensify surveillance and emergency response measures.
Ondo State Commissioner for Health, Dr Banji Ajaka, said medical and surveillance teams had been deployed to Irele to manage affected persons, trace contacts and investigate the source of the suspected toxic substance.
He said the government was moving quickly to prevent the incident from spreading to additional communities, while investigations continue into the production and distribution of the alcoholic substances believed to have caused the deaths.
The initial outbreak was linked to locally produced alcoholic and alcoholic-herbal mixtures consumed during two naming ceremonies in communities in Odigbo. Areas previously affected include New Town, Odole, Okele, Orita Odigbo, Araromi-Obu and Oniparaga.
Authorities have warned residents against consuming unregulated alcoholic drinks and herbal mixtures whose contents and production processes cannot be verified.
The exact toxic substance involved is still subject to investigation. Police have arrested suspects in connection with the production and distribution of the drink, while substances suspected to contain methanol have been recovered for forensic examination.
The state government has also brought several agencies into the response, including the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Department of State Services and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
The government earlier imposed restrictions on the production and sale of locally brewed alcoholic and alcoholic-herbal beverages in Odigbo as part of measures to prevent additional deaths.
Health officials are particularly concerned about the speed at which suspected toxic alcohol poisoning can cause severe illness. Authorities have therefore urged anyone who consumed the affected products and develops symptoms to seek immediate medical attention rather than attempting self-treatment.
The latest development has widened the public health response beyond the communities where the outbreak was first detected, with Irele now requiring increased monitoring and medical intervention.
Officials are continuing investigations to establish the precise source and composition of the suspected poisonous substance and determine how it reached the affected communities.
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