The death toll from the suspected poisonous herbal drink in Ondo State has risen to 49, while almost 200 people are reportedly affected by the health crisis.
According to latest reports, the incident, which started in Araromi-Obu and Odigbo communities in the Odigbo Local Government Area, has now spread to the Irele Local Government Area, where eight deaths have reportedly been reported.
It would be recalled that no fewer than 29 residents of Araromi-Obu and Odigbo were said to have died after consuming the substance.
However, the death toll has reportedly risen to 49 as of Wednesday.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Banji Ajaka, who confirmed the latest number of affected persons, said the health crisis had extended to the Irele Local Government Area.
Ajaka said eight people had been reported dead in Irele as of Tuesday night.
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 attributed the health crisis to the consumption of ethanol by the victims, adding that the state government had intensified its response to prevent the situation from spreading to other local government areas.
He said medical and health officials, alongside other stakeholders, had been deployed to affected communities as soon as reports emerged.
“We are always fast about it. Wherever and whenever we hear reports of the issue, our teams are already in Irele as I’m talking to you now,” Ajaka added.
The Ondo State Police Command had earlier arrested a man, Oloruntoba Babatunde, popularly known as “Meko,” over the production of a herbal liquid substance suspected to be linked to the health crisis.
The command also said 14 other persons were arrested for allegedly violating a ban on the sale of herbal products imposed by the local government.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, disclosed this in a statement, adding that the command had commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
