The Ondo State Government has ordered the immediate ban on the sale and distribution of unverified alcoholic drinks and other substances across the state following the deaths of about 30 people in Odigbo Local Government Area.
The government said the directive was necessary to prevent further loss of lives and ensure that the incident, reportedly linked to the consumption of unverified alcohol, does not spread to other parts of the state.
The Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Idowu Ajanaku, announced the directive in a statement on Saturday.
The development follows confirmation by Health Commissioner Dr Banji Awolowo-Ajaka that 29 people had died after consuming a suspected contaminated alcoholic drink, with 60 suspected cases recorded.
According to the Health Commissioner, three people were on admission in hospitals, while 27 others were under medical observation.
He said 95 per cent of those affected were males aged between 16 and 55, with cases recorded mainly in Orita Odigbo, Araromi-Obu, Newtown, Odole, Okele and Oniparaga communities.
Ajaka said the symptoms exhibited by the victims included headache, body pain, general body weakness, visual disturbance, difficulty in breathing and altered consciousness.
He added that some patients deteriorated rapidly, leading to death within a few hours.
“The pattern of illness and reported history of exposure have raised strong epidemiological suspicion of exposure to a probable toxic alcoholic substance.
“However, we are yet to have laboratory evidence of the cause of the deaths,” he said.
The Health Commissioner said 36 blood and urine samples had been collected for laboratory analysis, while samples of the suspected alcoholic substances had also been submitted for toxicological investigations.
Meanwhile, the state government said scientific officers from the Ministry of Health had been deployed to the affected communities to investigate the substance suspected to be responsible for the deaths and determine its exact composition.
The government urged residents to stop purchasing or consuming unverified alcoholic drinks and other substances, particularly products in sachets or bottles that do not have the approval of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
It also directed sellers and distributors to desist from purchasing, selling or making available for public consumption any substance whose source, content or regulatory status cannot be verified.
“Anyone found violating this directive will face the full wrath of the law,” the government said.
Security agencies have also been directed to take immediate action against the distribution and sale of illegal and unapproved products across the state.
The government urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious products and activities to the relevant authorities.
It said the directive was part of efforts by the administration of Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa to unravel the circumstances surrounding the deaths, protect residents and prevent further casualties.
The government assured residents that the investigation would continue until the substance responsible for the deaths, if confirmed, is identified.
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