The death toll from the suspected poisonous herbal drink consumed in parts of Ondo State has risen to 49, while about 170 people have been affected by the outbreak.
The crisis, which was first reported in Araromi-Obu and Odigbo communities in the Odigbo Local Government Area, has now spread to Irele LGA, where eight deaths have been recorded.
The Ondo State Commissioner for Health, Dr Banji Ajaka, confirmed the development in a telephone interview with PUNCH on Wednesday, saying the government had stepped up efforts to contain the situation.
Ajaka disclosed that Irele had become the latest hotspot, with eight people reportedly dying there as of Tuesday night. He added that the total number of affected persons included those hospitalised and those who had died.
He 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.”
The commissioner linked the health crisis to the consumption of ethanol by the victims, adding that medical teams and other relevant officials had been deployed to affected communities to prevent further spread.
Meanwhile, the Ondo State Police Command has arrested Oloruntoba Babatunde, popularly known as Meko, over the alleged production of a herbal liquid suspected to be connected with the deaths.
Fourteen other persons were also arrested for allegedly flouting a ban on the sale of herbal products in the affected local government.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, said in a statement that Babatunde was suspected of producing substances containing methanol and was assisting investigators. The command added that the bodies of the deceased were undergoing medical and forensic examinations as investigations continued.
