Ethanol poison Caused The Death Of 23 Persons In Ondo
Eranga Isaac, reporting
Toxicology reports have confirmed that the mysterious deaths at Ode Irele in Irele Local Government Area of Ondo State were not caused by viral infection but by ethanol poison from a local gin popularly called ‘Ogogoro’ in pidgin English parlance.
Ondo State Commissioner for Health, Dayo Adeyanju, disclosed this yesterday while briefing journalists in Akure. Adeyanju said: “Our clinical analysis reveals that there were no known viruses, while toxicology reports have confirmed our prime suspicion of methanol poisoning.”
The commissioner further disclosed that heavy concentration of ethanol of about 16.3 per cent was found in the system of the affected victims.
Adeyanju, who said the death toll had risen to 23, added that 10 survivors were recorded and that two of the victims had regained their sights.
To prevent such deaths, he announced the state government’s decision to ban production, sale and consumption of locally brewed gin known as “ogogoro” in the state.
He warned that the particular batch of ethanol had been circulated across the state, promising however that his ministry with other stakeholders and associations would work together to stop the production, sale and consumption of the locally brew gin in the state.
According to him, the ministry has embarked on sensitisation programme through jingles on radio and television and billboards to dissuade people from drinking ogogoro.
Adeyanju disclosed that treatment plan had been put in place for
people suffering from ethanol poisoning and urged the general public to
report promptly any case of such to the nearest hospital.
He said: “We have reviewed our strategies and embarked on sensitisation to let people know that locally-made gin is prohibited.
We will also embark on searches because this batch of ethanol- containing gin must have gone round the local government area and neighbouring towns. “We will start with the entire South Senatorial District, then move to the Central Senatorial District. We appeal to the general public to desist from drinking the gin until we are able to identify the source of contamination or find out how the ethanol got into the drinks.”
The commissioner disclosed that the state government was working closely with the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, and the National Orientation Agency, NOA, to sensitise members of the public on the danger in consuming locally brewed gin.
Toxicology reports have confirmed that the mysterious deaths at Ode Irele in Irele Local Government Area of Ondo State were not caused by viral infection but by ethanol poison from a local gin popularly called ‘Ogogoro’ in pidgin English parlance.
Ondo State Commissioner for Health, Dayo Adeyanju, disclosed this yesterday while briefing journalists in Akure. Adeyanju said: “Our clinical analysis reveals that there were no known viruses, while toxicology reports have confirmed our prime suspicion of methanol poisoning.”
The commissioner further disclosed that heavy concentration of ethanol of about 16.3 per cent was found in the system of the affected victims.
Adeyanju, who said the death toll had risen to 23, added that 10 survivors were recorded and that two of the victims had regained their sights.
To prevent such deaths, he announced the state government’s decision to ban production, sale and consumption of locally brewed gin known as “ogogoro” in the state.
He warned that the particular batch of ethanol had been circulated across the state, promising however that his ministry with other stakeholders and associations would work together to stop the production, sale and consumption of the locally brew gin in the state.
According to him, the ministry has embarked on sensitisation programme through jingles on radio and television and billboards to dissuade people from drinking ogogoro.
He said: “We have reviewed our strategies and embarked on sensitisation to let people know that locally-made gin is prohibited.
We will also embark on searches because this batch of ethanol- containing gin must have gone round the local government area and neighbouring towns. “We will start with the entire South Senatorial District, then move to the Central Senatorial District. We appeal to the general public to desist from drinking the gin until we are able to identify the source of contamination or find out how the ethanol got into the drinks.”
The commissioner disclosed that the state government was working closely with the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, and the National Orientation Agency, NOA, to sensitise members of the public on the danger in consuming locally brewed gin.
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