From an initial 30 deaths and 50 hospitalisation, casualty figures from the consumption of ‘Monkey Tail’, a poisonous alcohol mixture – has risen to 49 triggering national alarm.
The health status of170 others is under observation even as the authorities in Ondo State, the theatre of the deaths staggers to sustain ban of the sale and distribution of unverified alcoholic drinks.
“As we are now, Irele (LG) is where we have serious issue now, our people were there and many people have died”, Commissioner for Health, Dr. Banji Ajaka said in a release.
“So all the people that have been affected altogether now is about 170, those that have been admitted and those that have died“, he added.
The commissioner added that the state government had become expedient in its reaction, in attempt to stem further spread and the casualty figures.
Medical and health officers and other stakeholders, immediately mobilised to areas suspected to be at risk
“We are always fast about it wherever and whenever we heard the report of the issue, our teams are already in Irele as I’m talking to you now “
On other steps being taken to rein the situation, the commissioner said the state was already collaborating with relevant health agencies to contain the situation
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According to him, guests at two naming ceremonies had gulped down doses of Monkey Tail, a mixture believed to contain methanol, not knowing that they were gulping down poison.
The state government reacted promptly, moblising to the affected areas, which he said was commended at a national meeting of health commissioners and officials of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).
He mentioned agencies that the state was collaborating with to handle the problem to include the National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Directorate of State Services DSS).
Warning against the consumption of unregulated drinks, he said these included those marketed as herbal medicine.
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