The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, says 48 people have died following an outbreak of severe illnesses linked to the consumption of locally prepared alcoholic and herbal concoctions in Ondo State.
The agency said in a statement dated Sept. 18 that 182 cases had been recorded as of Sept. 17 across affected communities in Odigbo Local Government Area, including New Town, Odole, Okele, Orita Odigbo, Araromi-Obu and Oniparaga.
Of the 182 cases, NAFDAC said 90 people had been treated and discharged, 31 treated as outpatients and six remained hospitalized. Five people had reportedly been rendered totally blind, while two others suffered partial blindness.
The agency said the incident has also spread beyond Odigbo to Irele Local Government Area, with the figures still subject to verification.
NAFDAC said affected patients reported symptoms including headaches, general body weakness and pain, visual disturbances, difficulty breathing and altered consciousness, with some cases deteriorating rapidly.
As part of its investigation, the agency said 15 unlabelled samples of the suspected concoction were subjected to toxicity testing, chemical analysis and microbiological examination.
Preliminary findings showed that 11 of the 15 samples tested positive for *Cannabis indica*, while gas chromatography confirmed high concentrations of methanol, a toxic substance that can cause blindness, organ failure and death.
NAFDAC also said acute oral toxicity tests recorded about 50% mortality in laboratory mice across six of the samples tested, indicating significant toxic potential. It added that further tests are being conducted to determine the exact methanol concentrations and identify any other toxic substances.
The agency said 15 people had been arrested in connection with the suspected production, sale and distribution of the implicated beverages.
NAFDAC urged residents to avoid unlicensed, unregistered and locally prepared alcoholic or herbal concoctions of unknown composition.
It also advised anyone experiencing sudden visual disturbances, severe headaches, difficulty breathing or altered consciousness after consuming such substances to seek immediate medical attention.
The agency expressed condolences to the families of those who died and said regulatory, surveillance and risk-control measures were ongoing in the affected communities in coordination with relevant public health authorities.
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