Health
Death toll in Ondo suspected herbal poisoning incident rises to 29
Tosin Oyediran
The Ondo State Government has confirmed the death of 29 people from suspected poisoning linked to the consumption of alcoholic substances in Odigbo Local Government Area.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Banji Ajaka, who disclosed this on Friday night in Akure, said there were 60 suspected cases from the incident.
He explained that three people were currently on admission in hospitals, while 27 others remained under medical observation.
The death toll rose from 24 to 27 as confirmed to our correspondent by the Chairman of Odigbo LGA, Taiwo Adegoroye, on Thursday.
Recall that on Wednesday, the government confirmed the deaths of 24 residents of Odigbo Local Government Area of the state following the consumption of a herbal liquid substance.
Ajaka 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.
The commissioner explained that the symptoms included headache, body pain, weakness, visual disturbance, difficulty in breathing and altered consciousness, with some patients deteriorating rapidly.
“The pattern of illness and reported history of exposure have raised strong epidemiological suspicion of exposure to a probable toxic alcoholic substance.
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