The death toll from a suspected mass poisoning linked to locally produced alcoholic and herbal drinks in Ondo State, southwest Nigeria, has risen to 48, according to Nigeria’s National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
The latest update confirms that laboratory analysis found high concentrations of methanol in samples collected from affected communities, strengthening the link between the toxic substance and the illnesses and deaths.
NAFDAC said 182 cases had been recorded in the outbreak, which was first reported in parts of Odigbo Local Government Area earlier this month.
Five people left totally blind
According to NAFDAC’s latest update, 90 of those affected were admitted to hospital and later discharged, while six remained hospitalised as of September 17.
A further 31 people were treated as outpatients.
The agency said five victims had become totally blind and another two were partially blind following exposure to the suspected drinks.
Reported symptoms included severe headaches, general weakness and body pain, visual disturbances, breathing difficulties and altered consciousness. Some patients deteriorated rapidly.
NAFDAC confirms methanol in samples
NAFDAC Director-General Professor Mojisola Adeyeye said chemical screening using gas chromatography confirmed high concentrations of methanol in samples collected from the affected areas.
The agency also said 11 of the 15 samples analysed tested positive for Cannabis indica.
However, NAFDAC stressed that further confirmatory testing is continuing to determine the precise methanol concentrations and establish whether other toxic substances were involved.
“The combination of high mortality in animal testing and confirmed methanol contamination strongly suggests that the samples pose a serious public health risk,” NAFDAC said.
Health commissioner warned of rapid deterioration
Ondo State Commissioner for Health Banji Ajaka previously warned that the suspected poisoning could cause severe and rapid damage to the body.
“This thing happened rapidly. Once they consume, depending on the quantity, the kidneys will pack up, the eyes will go, the brain will be damaged,” Ajaka told the Associated Press.
His comments came as the number of reported deaths was still rising and hospitals were treating people who had consumed the suspected drinks.
One survivor, 32-year-old Sola Adebayo, told TVC News that he drank two shots before experiencing severe vision problems the following day.
“I took like two shots and I went out on Friday. On Saturday, I noticed that I could not see,” he said.
Police arrest 15 people
The Ondo State Police Command has arrested 15 people in connection with the suspected production, sale and distribution of the drinks.
Police spokesman Abayomi Jimoh said one of those arrested was allegedly involved in producing substances suspected to contain methanol and was assisting investigators.
Authorities have also subjected recovered substances and the bodies of some victims to medical and forensic examination as investigations continue.
Communities affected
The outbreak has been reported in communities including New Town, Odole, Okele, Orita Odigbo, Araromi-Obu and Oniparaga.
Cases have also been recorded in Irele Local Government Area, where eight deaths were previously reported, according to the Ondo State government.
The incident initially raised concerns about a locally produced high-alcohol drink popularly known as “Monkey Tail”. Reports have suggested that some versions may have been adulterated, but authorities have not established that the drink itself was definitively responsible for all the cases.
Why methanol is so dangerous
Methanol is a toxic form of alcohol that can cause serious poisoning when ingested. It can damage the optic nerves, resulting in blindness, and can cause metabolic disturbances, organ failure and death.
The danger is particularly significant because methanol can initially resemble ordinary drinking alcohol, making contamination difficult for consumers to detect without laboratory testing.
NAFDAC has warned that methanol in oral preparations is extremely dangerous and can cause blindness, organ failure and death even after relatively small exposures.
Authorities step up response
The Ondo State government has moved to restrict the production and sale of locally brewed alcoholic and herbal beverages in affected areas, while national agencies including NAFDAC and security authorities continue investigating.
The Nigerian government is also enforcing a nationwide ban on alcohol packaged in sachets and small plastic containers, with NAFDAC citing concerns about their accessibility and the risks associated with poorly regulated alcoholic products.
The latest figures therefore represent an increase from the earlier reports of at least 40 deaths. As of the latest NAFDAC update, 48 deaths and 182 affected people had been recorded, with laboratory evidence now confirming high methanol contamination in samples from the outbreak. Further testing and investigation are ongoing.
