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Ondo, Nigeria: 27 die of unidentified disease - methanol poisoning confirmed; 68 additional fatalities reported from Rivers State
- Thread starter alert
- Start date
http://www.rte.ie/news/2015/0419/695149-nigeria-deaths/ [h=1]WHO says pesticide likely cause of mystery deaths in Nigeria[/h] Sunday 19 April 2015 11.49 Pesticide poisoning was the likely cause of the mysterious deaths of at least 18 people in a southwestern Nigerian town earlier this week, the World Health Organisation said.
The "current hypothesis is cause of the event is herbicides", WHO spokesman Gregory Hartl said in a Tweet.
"Tests done so far are negative for viral and bacterial infection," he added.
The victims began showing symptoms early last week in what a local government spokesman called a "mysterious disease", prompting fears of a new infectious disease outbreak in a region already hit by Ebola.
The victims, whose symptoms included headache, weight loss, blurred vision and loss of consciousness, died within a day of falling ill in the town of Ode-Irele, in southwestern Ondo state.
Twenty-three people in total had been affected.
Health officials and experts from the government and aid agencies, as well as WHO epidemiologists, had arrived in Ode-Irele to investigate the deaths.
The tests were carried out at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, the WHO said.
The "current hypothesis is cause of the event is herbicides", WHO spokesman Gregory Hartl said in a Tweet.
"Tests done so far are negative for viral and bacterial infection," he added.
The victims began showing symptoms early last week in what a local government spokesman called a "mysterious disease", prompting fears of a new infectious disease outbreak in a region already hit by Ebola.
The victims, whose symptoms included headache, weight loss, blurred vision and loss of consciousness, died within a day of falling ill in the town of Ode-Irele, in southwestern Ondo state.
Twenty-three people in total had been affected.
Health officials and experts from the government and aid agencies, as well as WHO epidemiologists, had arrived in Ode-Irele to investigate the deaths.
The tests were carried out at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, the WHO said.
http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/our-monitoring-team-remains-on-alert-says-ogun-govt/207168/
Ondo Deaths Likely Caused by Herbicides By Paul Obi in Abuja and Sheriff Balogun in Abeokuta The Federal Government has said deaths claimed to have resulted from an unknown disease in Irele Local Government Area of Ondo State may have been caused by poisoning from herbicides used in the area.
Following this development, Ogun State monitoring response team has maintained close contact with Ondo State authorities to forestall a contagion effect on the people of its state. Project Director of the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Prof. Abdulrahman Nasidi, while speaking with THISDAY assured Nigerians that the medical team on ground in Ondo State would continue to monitor the situation so as to tackle the health crisis.
"Our team is on the ground, what we are getting is that the deaths is likely to be from herbicides," he said.
Nasidi debunked claims that the cause of the deaths might not be unconnected with some deity in the locality.
According to him, while government was not against people having such claims, the medical team was more focused on diagnosing the problem through clinical means.
[snip]
Ondo Deaths Likely Caused by Herbicides By Paul Obi in Abuja and Sheriff Balogun in Abeokuta The Federal Government has said deaths claimed to have resulted from an unknown disease in Irele Local Government Area of Ondo State may have been caused by poisoning from herbicides used in the area.
Following this development, Ogun State monitoring response team has maintained close contact with Ondo State authorities to forestall a contagion effect on the people of its state. Project Director of the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Prof. Abdulrahman Nasidi, while speaking with THISDAY assured Nigerians that the medical team on ground in Ondo State would continue to monitor the situation so as to tackle the health crisis.
"Our team is on the ground, what we are getting is that the deaths is likely to be from herbicides," he said.
Nasidi debunked claims that the cause of the deaths might not be unconnected with some deity in the locality.
According to him, while government was not against people having such claims, the medical team was more focused on diagnosing the problem through clinical means.
[snip]
Sunday, April 19, 2015
http://afludiary.blogspot.com/
Updating The Nigerian `Mystery Illness’ Story
# 9957
Four days ago, inReports Of An Unidentified, Rapidly Fatal Illness In Ondo, Nigeria, we looked at reports of a horrific disease outbreak in Nigeria - propelled by Twitter and social media accounts, often accompanied by dubious photos of purported `victims’ - which induced the local MOH to activate their emergency situation room in Response To `Mystery Illness’ In Ondo, Nigeria.
While there has been a good deal of speculation over what type of toxin might be behind this outbreak (methanol, and the ritualistic use of the Calabar bean have been mentioned), overnight, Gregory Hartl, spokesperson for the World Health Organization, tweeted that they are now looking at herbicidesas a potential cause.
Posted by
Michael Coston at 7:53 AM No comments:
Links to this post Labels: Mystery Illness, Nigeria, Ondo
http://afludiary.blogspot.com/
Updating The Nigerian `Mystery Illness’ Story
# 9957
Four days ago, inReports Of An Unidentified, Rapidly Fatal Illness In Ondo, Nigeria, we looked at reports of a horrific disease outbreak in Nigeria - propelled by Twitter and social media accounts, often accompanied by dubious photos of purported `victims’ - which induced the local MOH to activate their emergency situation room in Response To `Mystery Illness’ In Ondo, Nigeria.
Although testing for bacterial and viral causes (including Ebola) was undertaken, from the beginning the symptoms of sudden blindness, facial swelling, and rapid death were more consistent with a toxic exposure or poisoning.
Over the past 48 hours we’ve seen statements from the Ondo MOH that no additional cases have been reported (supporting the idea of a non-infectious cause), and of negative testing for the `usual’ viral and bacterial suspects.While there has been a good deal of speculation over what type of toxin might be behind this outbreak (methanol, and the ritualistic use of the Calabar bean have been mentioned), overnight, Gregory Hartl, spokesperson for the World Health Organization, tweeted that they are now looking at herbicidesas a potential cause.
While the exact cause must await toxicology reports, and an epidemiological investigation will reveal how they were exposed, it seems pretty certain we are dealing with a poisoning or toxin exposure, not an infectious disease.
One of the darker aspects to this already bleak story has been the willingness of hundreds of people on twitter, and in social media, to post or re-tweet dozens of graphic (and apparently, mostly fake) pictures of supposed `victims’. A disturbing trend we saw during the Ebola outbreak last summer, a practice that Dr. Ian Mackay called out on his blog (see Fake/wrong Ebola virus disease images...).
Sadly, while a picture may be worth a thousand words, it appears that a disturbing picture is worth at least a thousand re-tweets.Posted by
Michael Coston at 7:53 AM No comments:
Links to this post Labels: Mystery Illness, Nigeria, OndoBy ethanol, do they mean methanol? Ethanol is toxic in high enough doses, but seems unlikely to produce this syndrome.
Or does the presence of ethanol imply they drank some illicit alcohol, which would thus imply methanol poisoning?
http://africanspotlight.com/2015/04/...in-irele-ondo/ #OndoX: Government reveals cause of mystery disease in Irele, Ondo
Posted On 19 Apr 2015
By : Web Master
Comment: 0
Tag: Irele, News, Nigeria, Ode Irele, Ondo State
The Ondo State Government says a strange disease that has killed about 20 people since its outbreak on April 15 in Ode-Irele, Irele Local Government Area of the state, is not contagious.
State Commissioner for Health, Dr Dayo Adeyanju, made this assurance on Sunday at a news conference in Akure.
He said findings from post-mortem carried out on the victims and other laboratory tests revealed that the disease was neither epidemic nor contagious.
According to the commissioner, preliminary report shows that ethanol poison is found in the systems of all the victims.
Adeyanju added, “Our investigations revealed that the victims, who are commercial motorcyclists, gathered at some local joints to take alcoholic substance mixed with roots and some other local herbs on the eve of the outbreak of the disease.
“I can assure you that the disease is in no way contagious. The fact that none of the caregivers has contracted the disease has greatly underscored this point.
“Therefore, the fear of spread does not arise and should be discouraged.
“We strongly suspect ethanol poison and in view of this, we have ordered for another toxicology test for surviving victims.”
The commissioner, who said there had been no report of new cases in the last three days, explained that 23 people were affected out of which 18 people died of the disease.
He disclosed that the five survivors, who have currently gone blind, had been referred to the University Teaching Hospital, Ibadan, for further examination and monitoring.
Adeyanju, however, insisted that he would not join issues with traditionalists, who believe that the outbreak of the disease was due to some angry gods from which shrines some youths were said to have stolen.
Or does the presence of ethanol imply they drank some illicit alcohol, which would thus imply methanol poisoning?
http://africanspotlight.com/2015/04/...in-irele-ondo/ #OndoX: Government reveals cause of mystery disease in Irele, Ondo
Posted On 19 Apr 2015
By : Web Master
Comment: 0
Tag: Irele, News, Nigeria, Ode Irele, Ondo State
The Ondo State Government says a strange disease that has killed about 20 people since its outbreak on April 15 in Ode-Irele, Irele Local Government Area of the state, is not contagious.
State Commissioner for Health, Dr Dayo Adeyanju, made this assurance on Sunday at a news conference in Akure.
He said findings from post-mortem carried out on the victims and other laboratory tests revealed that the disease was neither epidemic nor contagious.
According to the commissioner, preliminary report shows that ethanol poison is found in the systems of all the victims.
Adeyanju added, “Our investigations revealed that the victims, who are commercial motorcyclists, gathered at some local joints to take alcoholic substance mixed with roots and some other local herbs on the eve of the outbreak of the disease.
“I can assure you that the disease is in no way contagious. The fact that none of the caregivers has contracted the disease has greatly underscored this point.
“Therefore, the fear of spread does not arise and should be discouraged.
“We strongly suspect ethanol poison and in view of this, we have ordered for another toxicology test for surviving victims.”
The commissioner, who said there had been no report of new cases in the last three days, explained that 23 people were affected out of which 18 people died of the disease.
He disclosed that the five survivors, who have currently gone blind, had been referred to the University Teaching Hospital, Ibadan, for further examination and monitoring.
Adeyanju, however, insisted that he would not join issues with traditionalists, who believe that the outbreak of the disease was due to some angry gods from which shrines some youths were said to have stolen.
http://www.channelstv.com/2015/04/1...e-caused-by-alcohol-consumption-commissioner/ [h=2]Ode-Irele Ailment Might Be Caused By Alcohol Consumption ? Commissioner[/h] Channels Television.
Updated April 19, 2015
The strange ailment that broke out in Ode-Irele, a town in the southern part of Ondo State might be as a result of the victim?s consumption of local alcohol.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr Dayo Adeyanju, made this disclosure on Sunday, while briefing journalists on the update of the situation.
Dr Adeyanju informed that the preliminary reports of tests carried out, revealed that it is not a viral disease.
?The deaths might have resulted from a methanol poison drank by some of the victims,? he said.
Dr Adeyanju further said that the result of the toxicology test to confirm the statement was still being expected from the University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan, Oyo State.
Updated April 19, 2015
The strange ailment that broke out in Ode-Irele, a town in the southern part of Ondo State might be as a result of the victim?s consumption of local alcohol.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr Dayo Adeyanju, made this disclosure on Sunday, while briefing journalists on the update of the situation.
Dr Adeyanju informed that the preliminary reports of tests carried out, revealed that it is not a viral disease.
?The deaths might have resulted from a methanol poison drank by some of the victims,? he said.
Dr Adeyanju further said that the result of the toxicology test to confirm the statement was still being expected from the University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan, Oyo State.
Despite the similarity in name, I have nothing to do with the group calling themselves "Ebola Alert".
Published Date: 2015-04-19 22:10:58
Subject: PRO/EDR> Undiagnosed illness - Nigeria (02): (Ondo) fatal, blindness, update
Archive Number: 20150419.3308400
UNDIAGNOSED ILLNESS - NIGERIA (02): (ONDO) FATAL, BLINDNESS, UPDATE
************************************************** *******************
A ProMED-mail post
http://www.promedmail.org
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
http://www.isid.org
Date: Sat 18 Apr 2015
Source: Premium Times [edited]
http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/h...-diseases.html
Laboratory tests have confirmed that the strange illness ravaging the Ode-Irele community in Ondo State, which is now known as [pound sign/hashtag]OndoX, is not Ebola virus disease.
Ebola Alert, an evidence-driven group of volunteer professionals who helped with the Ebola Virus Disease interventions in the country, said samples taken from victims and tested in a laboratory in Lagos tested negative to Ebola and 5 other deadly diseases. "[pound sign/hashtag]OndoX samples tests negative for Ebola Virus, Yellow Fever, Lassa Fever Virus, Rift Valley Fever Virus, Dengue Virus, West Nile Virus," the organisation said in an update provided via its twitter handle Friday night [17 Apr 2015]. It said the samples were "currently undergoing toxicology screen".
The strange disease had suddenly broken out in the sleepy community 5 days ago, leading to the death of no fewer than 28 people, according to Ebola Alert. Residents say the disease, whose cause remained unknown, spread rapidly around the community, killing its victim within 24 hours. Experts say victims manifest clinical symptoms such as headache, blurry vision/total blindness, convulsion and death.
Ebola Alert said 3 survivors have so far been reported.
In its effort at containing the spread of the disease, the Ondo state government on Friday [17 Apr2015] set up emergency task teams and a Situation Room to coordinate the response teams working from the frontlines. The state Commissioner for Health, Dayo Adeyanju, said in a statement that the 5 emergency response task teams were raised to handle different aspects of control mechanisms. The task teams are Contact Tracing Committee, Case Management Committee, Laboratory/Forensic Committee, Community Education & Mobilization Committee and Print, Electronic & Social Media Sensitization Committee.
"These and other measures have been put in place to ensure the safety of lives of our dear people of Irele. Let us continue to exercise calm and caution and eschew fear mongering as there is manifest evidence that the situation is being contained," Mr. Adeyanju said.
"In case of any suspected case, contact: WHO 08033720966, LGA DSNO - 08112524793 and the State Epidemiologist - 08062078384."
--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>
[A similar report was submitted by: Viki Hansen-Landis, RN, MPH,
International SOS, <viki.hansen@internationalsos.com>.
The above news report says that laboratory tests on clinical samples from the Ondo State outbreak cases have ruled out an infection due either to Ebola Virus, Yellow Fever, Lassa Fever Virus, Rift Valley Fever Virus, Dengue Virus, or West Nile Virus. The news report also says that samples were "currently undergoing toxicology screen", but does not specify what toxins are being screened. - Mod.ML
Published Date: 2015-04-19 22:10:58
Subject: PRO/EDR> Undiagnosed illness - Nigeria (02): (Ondo) fatal, blindness, update
Archive Number: 20150419.3308400
UNDIAGNOSED ILLNESS - NIGERIA (02): (ONDO) FATAL, BLINDNESS, UPDATE
************************************************** *******************
A ProMED-mail post
http://www.promedmail.org
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
http://www.isid.org
Date: Sat 18 Apr 2015
Source: Premium Times [edited]
http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/h...-diseases.html
Laboratory tests have confirmed that the strange illness ravaging the Ode-Irele community in Ondo State, which is now known as [pound sign/hashtag]OndoX, is not Ebola virus disease.
Ebola Alert, an evidence-driven group of volunteer professionals who helped with the Ebola Virus Disease interventions in the country, said samples taken from victims and tested in a laboratory in Lagos tested negative to Ebola and 5 other deadly diseases. "[pound sign/hashtag]OndoX samples tests negative for Ebola Virus, Yellow Fever, Lassa Fever Virus, Rift Valley Fever Virus, Dengue Virus, West Nile Virus," the organisation said in an update provided via its twitter handle Friday night [17 Apr 2015]. It said the samples were "currently undergoing toxicology screen".
The strange disease had suddenly broken out in the sleepy community 5 days ago, leading to the death of no fewer than 28 people, according to Ebola Alert. Residents say the disease, whose cause remained unknown, spread rapidly around the community, killing its victim within 24 hours. Experts say victims manifest clinical symptoms such as headache, blurry vision/total blindness, convulsion and death.
Ebola Alert said 3 survivors have so far been reported.
In its effort at containing the spread of the disease, the Ondo state government on Friday [17 Apr2015] set up emergency task teams and a Situation Room to coordinate the response teams working from the frontlines. The state Commissioner for Health, Dayo Adeyanju, said in a statement that the 5 emergency response task teams were raised to handle different aspects of control mechanisms. The task teams are Contact Tracing Committee, Case Management Committee, Laboratory/Forensic Committee, Community Education & Mobilization Committee and Print, Electronic & Social Media Sensitization Committee.
"These and other measures have been put in place to ensure the safety of lives of our dear people of Irele. Let us continue to exercise calm and caution and eschew fear mongering as there is manifest evidence that the situation is being contained," Mr. Adeyanju said.
"In case of any suspected case, contact: WHO 08033720966, LGA DSNO - 08112524793 and the State Epidemiologist - 08062078384."
--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>
[A similar report was submitted by: Viki Hansen-Landis, RN, MPH,
International SOS, <viki.hansen@internationalsos.com>.
The above news report says that laboratory tests on clinical samples from the Ondo State outbreak cases have ruled out an infection due either to Ebola Virus, Yellow Fever, Lassa Fever Virus, Rift Valley Fever Virus, Dengue Virus, or West Nile Virus. The news report also says that samples were "currently undergoing toxicology screen", but does not specify what toxins are being screened. - Mod.ML
Last edited by a moderator:
http://www.channelstv.com/2015/04/20/mysterious-deaths-ode-irele-residents-asked-to-avoid-local-gin/ [h=2]Mysterious Deaths: Ode-Irele Residents Asked To Avoid Local Gin[/h] Channels Television.
Updated April 20, 2015
22
The Ondo State government has advised residents of Ode-Irele and its environs against the consumption of local gin, also known as Ogogoro, following discovery that victims of the Irele strange ailment could have died from possible methanol poisoning after consuming the mixture.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Dayo Adeyanju, gave the advice on Monday while giving reporters update of the incident in Akure, the State Capital.
Dr Adeyanju said the government had begun sensitisation on why people should avoid taking all manner of local gin at this period since it was still difficult to trace the source of the alcoholic substance taken by some of the Ode-Irele victims.
He said the state government was on top of the situation, assuring Nigerians that the final report on the investigations into the mysterious deaths, especially the toxicology test would soon be made public.
Earlier reports say the World Health Organization, (WHO) had linked the cause of death to possible pesticide poisoning.
But the Ondo State Coordinator of WHO, Dr. Akinola Fatigerun, dissociated the organisation from the reports.
He said the cause of death of the victims would be known when the report of the test is released.
[snip]
Updated April 20, 2015
22
The Ondo State government has advised residents of Ode-Irele and its environs against the consumption of local gin, also known as Ogogoro, following discovery that victims of the Irele strange ailment could have died from possible methanol poisoning after consuming the mixture.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Dayo Adeyanju, gave the advice on Monday while giving reporters update of the incident in Akure, the State Capital.
Dr Adeyanju said the government had begun sensitisation on why people should avoid taking all manner of local gin at this period since it was still difficult to trace the source of the alcoholic substance taken by some of the Ode-Irele victims.
He said the state government was on top of the situation, assuring Nigerians that the final report on the investigations into the mysterious deaths, especially the toxicology test would soon be made public.
Earlier reports say the World Health Organization, (WHO) had linked the cause of death to possible pesticide poisoning.
But the Ondo State Coordinator of WHO, Dr. Akinola Fatigerun, dissociated the organisation from the reports.
He said the cause of death of the victims would be known when the report of the test is released.
[snip]
sharon sanders
Editor-in-Chief & President
From: WorldHealthOrganizationNews@who.int
To: undisclosed-recipients@null, null@null
Subject: Unidentified disease outbreak not infectious - Minister of Health assures Nigerians
Date: Apr 20, 2015 1:04 PM
[TABLE="class: msgbody, border: 0, cellpadding: 0, cellspacing: 0"]
[TR]
[TD]
On 15 th April when the disease was first reported, health officials from the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH), government agencies (including the Nigeria Center for Disease Control) and experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) were deployed to Irele, LGA in south-western Nigeria to investigate rumors of the unidentified disease outbreak.
The Minister in his speech at a press briefing held at the conference hall of the FMOH in Abuja on Monday 20 April, also disclosed that as at the time of the briefing "no new cases have been reported in the past 100 hours and no related mortality in the last 72 hours. We therefore believe that the situation is under control".
He also stated that preliminary epidemiological and laboratory investigations indicate that the disease is not attributed to any infectious disease.
According to the Minister, "epidemiological findings indicate a strong linkage of the outbreak with the consumption of local gin that might have been contaminated with methanol". He however added that laboratory investigation is ongoing.
Mr. Nwankwo requested the journalists to use their media outfits to create more awareness and encourage the public to remain calm but vigilant and continue to report any events of public health concern to the nearest health authorities.
Also speaking at the press briefing, the WHO Country Representative in Nigeria, Dr Rui Gama Vaz commended the Ondo state government for the rapid response and the immediate deployment of its epidemiological structure to investigate and mitigate the situation.
Dr Vaz assured the Minister and the public that "WHO will continue to provide technical support to the FMOH and related agencies, to strengthen surveillance at community level for early case identification; the associated risk factors and to create awareness to avert similar situations in future".
Available records showed that the reported cases were among males, between the ages of 20 and 75 years old. Equally, 71% had history of having consumed locally brewed gin and were farmers. Symptoms of the unidentified disease include sudden blurred vision, headache, and loss of consciousness followed by death, all occurring within 24 hours of onset.
__________________________________________________ ______________________________
For further information:
Media contact – Mrs Charity Warigon, WHO Nigeria, email: warigonc@who.int, tel: +234 810 221 0093 [/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
To: undisclosed-recipients@null, null@null
Subject: Unidentified disease outbreak not infectious - Minister of Health assures Nigerians
Date: Apr 20, 2015 1:04 PM
[TABLE="class: msgbody, border: 0, cellpadding: 0, cellspacing: 0"]
[TR]
[TD]
[FONT=Calibri,Calibri][FONT=Calibri,Calibri]Dear journalists,
Please find below the text of the press release issued by WHO Country Office in Nigeria regarding the unidentified disease in Ondo State, Nigeria.
Best regards
WHO Media Team[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Calibri,Calibri][FONT=Calibri,Calibri]Unidentified disease outbreak not infectious - Minister of Health assures Nigerians[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Calibri,Calibri][FONT=Calibri,Calibri]Abuja, 20 April 2015 [/FONT][/FONT]- The Minister of State for Health, Mr. Fidelis Nwankwo has debunked the rumors of unidentified disease outbreak which is attributed to 19 deaths since 15 th April 2015, out of 24 reported cases. He further provided insights on the causes of illness and sudden deaths in two communities of Irele, Local Government Area (LGA) in Ondo State of Nigeria.Please find below the text of the press release issued by WHO Country Office in Nigeria regarding the unidentified disease in Ondo State, Nigeria.
Best regards
WHO Media Team[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Calibri,Calibri][FONT=Calibri,Calibri]Unidentified disease outbreak not infectious - Minister of Health assures Nigerians[/FONT][/FONT]
On 15 th April when the disease was first reported, health officials from the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH), government agencies (including the Nigeria Center for Disease Control) and experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) were deployed to Irele, LGA in south-western Nigeria to investigate rumors of the unidentified disease outbreak.
The Minister in his speech at a press briefing held at the conference hall of the FMOH in Abuja on Monday 20 April, also disclosed that as at the time of the briefing "no new cases have been reported in the past 100 hours and no related mortality in the last 72 hours. We therefore believe that the situation is under control".
He also stated that preliminary epidemiological and laboratory investigations indicate that the disease is not attributed to any infectious disease.
According to the Minister, "epidemiological findings indicate a strong linkage of the outbreak with the consumption of local gin that might have been contaminated with methanol". He however added that laboratory investigation is ongoing.
Mr. Nwankwo requested the journalists to use their media outfits to create more awareness and encourage the public to remain calm but vigilant and continue to report any events of public health concern to the nearest health authorities.
Also speaking at the press briefing, the WHO Country Representative in Nigeria, Dr Rui Gama Vaz commended the Ondo state government for the rapid response and the immediate deployment of its epidemiological structure to investigate and mitigate the situation.
Dr Vaz assured the Minister and the public that "WHO will continue to provide technical support to the FMOH and related agencies, to strengthen surveillance at community level for early case identification; the associated risk factors and to create awareness to avert similar situations in future".
Available records showed that the reported cases were among males, between the ages of 20 and 75 years old. Equally, 71% had history of having consumed locally brewed gin and were farmers. Symptoms of the unidentified disease include sudden blurred vision, headache, and loss of consciousness followed by death, all occurring within 24 hours of onset.
__________________________________________________ ______________________________
For further information:
Media contact – Mrs Charity Warigon, WHO Nigeria, email: warigonc@who.int, tel: +234 810 221 0093 [/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
Emily
Editor, Senior Moderator
I think this is at odds with all other reports that gave the age range of victims as about 20-35.
This is from the article linked to in Pathfinder's post #41:
So whatever the cause, we have alleged artifact thieves dead, and they would have been able to identify a middleman who in turn could identify his contacts in the stolen antiquity world.
WHO Statement On Nigerian (Non-Infectious) Illness Outbreak
# 9961
Despite some of the over-the-top media coverage, from the first reports that emerged last week (see Reports Of An Unidentified, Rapidly Fatal Illness In Ondo, Nigeria) there were doubts over whether this event was due to an infectious disease, as the symptoms were more consistent with a toxin or poison.
Methanol (wood alcohol) has a long, and tragic history of being used to fortify bootleg liquor, and when ingested even in small quantities converts to formic acid, which can cause permanent blindness or even death.
The WHO factsheet on Methanol poisoning lists a number of recent incidents, including:
Posted by
Michael Coston at 2:19 PM No comments: Links to this post Labels: Methanol, Nigeria
# 9961
Despite some of the over-the-top media coverage, from the first reports that emerged last week (see Reports Of An Unidentified, Rapidly Fatal Illness In Ondo, Nigeria) there were doubts over whether this event was due to an infectious disease, as the symptoms were more consistent with a toxin or poison.
On Sunday, in Updating The Nigerian `Mystery Illness? Story, we learned that testing for common viral and bacterial infections had come back negative, that no more cases had turned up in the past 48 hours, and that the focus was on identifying a poison, or toxic exposure.
Today the Nigerian Office of the World Health Organization has released a statement assuring that the outbreak was `under control? and stating that ?epidemiological findings indicate a strong linkage of the outbreak with the consumption of local gin that might have been contaminated with methanol?
Methanol (wood alcohol) has a long, and tragic history of being used to fortify bootleg liquor, and when ingested even in small quantities converts to formic acid, which can cause permanent blindness or even death.
The WHO factsheet on Methanol poisoning lists a number of recent incidents, including:
. . . . in Cambodia, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Estonia, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Libya, Nicaragua, Norway, Pakistan, Turkey and Uganda. The size of these outbreaks has ranged from 20 to over 800 victims, with case fatality rates of over 30% in some instances.
Here is the official statement from the Nigerian Office of the WHO.
Unidentified disease outbreak not infectious - Minister of Health assures Nigerians
Minister of State for Health flanked by the Director of Public Health and the WHO Country Representative in Nigeria
Abuja, 20 April 2015 - The Minister of State for Health, Mr. Fidelis Nwankwo has debunked the rumors of unidentified disease outbreak which is attributed to 19 deaths since 15th April 2015, out of 24 reported cases. He further provided insights on the causes of illness and sudden deaths in two communities of Irele, Local Government Area (LGA) in Ondo State of Nigeria.
On 15th April when the disease was first reported, health officials from the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH), government agencies (including the Nigeria Center for Disease Control) and experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) were deployed to Irele, LGA in south-western Nigeria to investigate rumors of the unidentified disease outbreak.
The Minister in his speech at a press briefing held at the conference hall of the FMOH in Abuja on Monday 20 April, also disclosed that as at the time of the briefing ?no new cases have been reported in the past 100 hours and no related mortality in the last 72 hours. We therefore believe that the situation is under control?.
He also stated that preliminary epidemiological and laboratory investigations indicate that the disease is not attributed to any infectious disease.
According to the Minister, ?epidemiological findings indicate a strong linkage of the outbreak with the consumption of local gin that might have been contaminated with methanol?. He however added that laboratory investigation is ongoing.
Mr. Nwankwo requested the journalists to use their media outfits to create more awareness and encourage the public to remain calm but vigilant and continue to report any events of public health concern to the nearest health authorities.
Also speaking at the press briefing, the WHO Country Representative in Nigeria, Dr Rui Gama Vaz commended the Ondo state government for the rapid response and the immediate deployment of its epidemiological structure to investigate and mitigate the situation.
Dr Vaz assured the Minister and the public that ?WHO will continue to provide technical support to the FMOH and related agencies, to strengthen surveillance at community level for early case identification; the associated risk factors and to create awareness to avert similar situations in future?.
Available records showed that the reported cases were among males, between the ages of 20 and 75 years old. Equally, 71% had history of having consumed locally brewed gin and were farmers. Symptoms of the unidentified disease include sudden blurred vision, headache, and loss of consciousness followed by death, all occurring within 24 hours of onset.
Minister of State for Health flanked by the Director of Public Health and the WHO Country Representative in Nigeria
Abuja, 20 April 2015 - The Minister of State for Health, Mr. Fidelis Nwankwo has debunked the rumors of unidentified disease outbreak which is attributed to 19 deaths since 15th April 2015, out of 24 reported cases. He further provided insights on the causes of illness and sudden deaths in two communities of Irele, Local Government Area (LGA) in Ondo State of Nigeria.
On 15th April when the disease was first reported, health officials from the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH), government agencies (including the Nigeria Center for Disease Control) and experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) were deployed to Irele, LGA in south-western Nigeria to investigate rumors of the unidentified disease outbreak.
The Minister in his speech at a press briefing held at the conference hall of the FMOH in Abuja on Monday 20 April, also disclosed that as at the time of the briefing ?no new cases have been reported in the past 100 hours and no related mortality in the last 72 hours. We therefore believe that the situation is under control?.
He also stated that preliminary epidemiological and laboratory investigations indicate that the disease is not attributed to any infectious disease.
According to the Minister, ?epidemiological findings indicate a strong linkage of the outbreak with the consumption of local gin that might have been contaminated with methanol?. He however added that laboratory investigation is ongoing.
Mr. Nwankwo requested the journalists to use their media outfits to create more awareness and encourage the public to remain calm but vigilant and continue to report any events of public health concern to the nearest health authorities.
Also speaking at the press briefing, the WHO Country Representative in Nigeria, Dr Rui Gama Vaz commended the Ondo state government for the rapid response and the immediate deployment of its epidemiological structure to investigate and mitigate the situation.
Dr Vaz assured the Minister and the public that ?WHO will continue to provide technical support to the FMOH and related agencies, to strengthen surveillance at community level for early case identification; the associated risk factors and to create awareness to avert similar situations in future?.
Available records showed that the reported cases were among males, between the ages of 20 and 75 years old. Equally, 71% had history of having consumed locally brewed gin and were farmers. Symptoms of the unidentified disease include sudden blurred vision, headache, and loss of consciousness followed by death, all occurring within 24 hours of onset.
Posted by
Michael Coston at 2:19 PM No comments:
Links to this post Labels: Methanol, NigeriaPublished Date: 2015-04-20 13:19:43
Subject: PRO/EDR> Undiagnosed illness - Nigeria (03): (ON) fatal, blindness, update
Archive Number: 20150420.3308601
UNDIAGNOSED ILLNESS - NIGERIA (03): (ONDO) FATAL, BLINDNESS, UPDATE
************************************************** *****************
A ProMED-mail post
http://www.promedmail.org
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
http://www.isid.org
[1]
Date: Sun 19 Apr 2015
Source: The Guardian Nigeria, AFP (Agence France-Presse) report [edited]
http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/2015/...ease-says-who/
Pesticide poisoning was the likely cause of the mysterious deaths of at least 18 people in a southwestern Nigerian town earlier this week, the World Health Organization said on Sunday [19 Apr 2015]. The "current hypothesis is cause of the event is herbicides," WHO spokesman Gregory Hartl said in a tweet. "Tests done so far are negative for viral and bacterial infection," he added.
The victims began showing symptoms early last week in what Ondo state spokesman Kayode Akinmade called a "mysterious disease", prompting fears of a new infectious disease outbreak in a region ravaged by Ebola. The victims, whose symptoms included headache, weight loss, blurred vision and loss of consciousness, died within a day of falling ill in the town of Ode-Irele, in south western Ondo state.
The Ondo state health commissioner, Dayo Adeyanju, told AFP on Saturday [18 Apr 2015] that 23 people had been affected. Akinmade said health officials and experts from the government and aid agencies, as well as WHO epidemiologists, had arrived in Ode-Irele to investigate the deaths. The tests were carried out at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, WHO said.
--
[Similar news reports were submitted by: Richard W Wilsnack, PhD <richard.wilsnack@med.und.edu> and Abdulaziz Mohammed <abdulazizmohammed8@gmail.com>.]
******
[2]
Date: Sun 19 Apr 2015
Source: Premium Times [edited]
http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/h...-official.html
The Ondo State Government says a strange disease that has killed over a dozen people since its outbreak on [15 Apr 2015] in Ode-Irele, Irele Local Government Area of the state, is not contagious and could be a result of ethanol poisoning. The commissioner for health in the state, Dayo Adeyanju, stated this on Sunday [19 Apr 2015] at a news conference in Akure.
He said findings from postmortems carried out on the victims and other laboratory tests revealed that the disease was neither epidemic nor contagious.
According to the commissioner, preliminary reports showed ethanol poison found in the systems of all the victims. "Our investigations revealed that the victims, who are commercial motorcyclists, gathered at some local joints to take alcoholic substance mixed with roots and some other local herbs on the eve of the outbreak of the disease. I can assure you that the disease is in no way contagious. The fact that none of the caregivers has contracted the disease has greatly underscored this point. Therefore, the fear of spread does not arise and should be discouraged. We strongly suspect ethanol poison and in view of this, we have ordered for another toxicology test for surviving victims," Mr Adeyanju said.
Ebola Alert, an evidence-driven group of volunteer professionals who helped with the Ebola virus disease interventions in Nigeria, had said on Friday [17 Apr 2015] that samples taken from victims and tested in a laboratory in Lagos tested negative to Ebola and 5 other deadly diseases. "#OndoX samples tests negative for Ebola Virus, Yellow Fever, Lassa Fever Virus, Rift Valley Fever Virus, Dengue Virus, West Nile Virus," the organisation said.
The Ondo commissioner, who said that there had been no report of new cases in the last 3 days, explained that 18 out of the 23 people affected have died. He said the 5 survivors, who have currently gone blind, have been referred to the University Teaching Hospital, Ibadan, for further examination and monitoring.
Mr Adeyanju said he would not join issues with traditionalists who believe that the outbreak of the disease was because some youth stole from shrine of some gods. The commissioner, however, said that the dead would be buried in body bags to curtail any spread of the disease.
--
communicated by:
ProMED-mail rapporteurs Kunihiko Iizuka & Joe Dudley
[Although the 2nd news report above says the toxin involved in the Ondo outbreak is ethanol, most likely the alcoholic toxin that was meant is methanol. Methanol intoxication commonly causes diminished visual acuity, which can progress to blindness. Methanol, also known as wood alcohol, is a commonly used industrial solvent. Most methanol poisonings occur as a result of drinking beverages adulterated with methanol. Methanol intoxication may also result from inhalation of high concentrations of methanol vapor or from skin contact (http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ershdb/emer..._29750029.html).
A discussion of methanol poisoning can be found in moderator TG's comments in ProMED-mail post Methanol poisoning, fatal - India: (UP) 20150113.3088258. - Mod.ML
Subject: PRO/EDR> Undiagnosed illness - Nigeria (03): (ON) fatal, blindness, update
Archive Number: 20150420.3308601
UNDIAGNOSED ILLNESS - NIGERIA (03): (ONDO) FATAL, BLINDNESS, UPDATE
************************************************** *****************
A ProMED-mail post
http://www.promedmail.org
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
http://www.isid.org
[1]
Date: Sun 19 Apr 2015
Source: The Guardian Nigeria, AFP (Agence France-Presse) report [edited]
http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/2015/...ease-says-who/
Pesticide poisoning was the likely cause of the mysterious deaths of at least 18 people in a southwestern Nigerian town earlier this week, the World Health Organization said on Sunday [19 Apr 2015]. The "current hypothesis is cause of the event is herbicides," WHO spokesman Gregory Hartl said in a tweet. "Tests done so far are negative for viral and bacterial infection," he added.
The victims began showing symptoms early last week in what Ondo state spokesman Kayode Akinmade called a "mysterious disease", prompting fears of a new infectious disease outbreak in a region ravaged by Ebola. The victims, whose symptoms included headache, weight loss, blurred vision and loss of consciousness, died within a day of falling ill in the town of Ode-Irele, in south western Ondo state.
The Ondo state health commissioner, Dayo Adeyanju, told AFP on Saturday [18 Apr 2015] that 23 people had been affected. Akinmade said health officials and experts from the government and aid agencies, as well as WHO epidemiologists, had arrived in Ode-Irele to investigate the deaths. The tests were carried out at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, WHO said.
--
[Similar news reports were submitted by: Richard W Wilsnack, PhD <richard.wilsnack@med.und.edu> and Abdulaziz Mohammed <abdulazizmohammed8@gmail.com>.]
******
[2]
Date: Sun 19 Apr 2015
Source: Premium Times [edited]
http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/h...-official.html
The Ondo State Government says a strange disease that has killed over a dozen people since its outbreak on [15 Apr 2015] in Ode-Irele, Irele Local Government Area of the state, is not contagious and could be a result of ethanol poisoning. The commissioner for health in the state, Dayo Adeyanju, stated this on Sunday [19 Apr 2015] at a news conference in Akure.
He said findings from postmortems carried out on the victims and other laboratory tests revealed that the disease was neither epidemic nor contagious.
According to the commissioner, preliminary reports showed ethanol poison found in the systems of all the victims. "Our investigations revealed that the victims, who are commercial motorcyclists, gathered at some local joints to take alcoholic substance mixed with roots and some other local herbs on the eve of the outbreak of the disease. I can assure you that the disease is in no way contagious. The fact that none of the caregivers has contracted the disease has greatly underscored this point. Therefore, the fear of spread does not arise and should be discouraged. We strongly suspect ethanol poison and in view of this, we have ordered for another toxicology test for surviving victims," Mr Adeyanju said.
Ebola Alert, an evidence-driven group of volunteer professionals who helped with the Ebola virus disease interventions in Nigeria, had said on Friday [17 Apr 2015] that samples taken from victims and tested in a laboratory in Lagos tested negative to Ebola and 5 other deadly diseases. "#OndoX samples tests negative for Ebola Virus, Yellow Fever, Lassa Fever Virus, Rift Valley Fever Virus, Dengue Virus, West Nile Virus," the organisation said.
The Ondo commissioner, who said that there had been no report of new cases in the last 3 days, explained that 18 out of the 23 people affected have died. He said the 5 survivors, who have currently gone blind, have been referred to the University Teaching Hospital, Ibadan, for further examination and monitoring.
Mr Adeyanju said he would not join issues with traditionalists who believe that the outbreak of the disease was because some youth stole from shrine of some gods. The commissioner, however, said that the dead would be buried in body bags to curtail any spread of the disease.
--
communicated by:
ProMED-mail rapporteurs Kunihiko Iizuka & Joe Dudley
[Although the 2nd news report above says the toxin involved in the Ondo outbreak is ethanol, most likely the alcoholic toxin that was meant is methanol. Methanol intoxication commonly causes diminished visual acuity, which can progress to blindness. Methanol, also known as wood alcohol, is a commonly used industrial solvent. Most methanol poisonings occur as a result of drinking beverages adulterated with methanol. Methanol intoxication may also result from inhalation of high concentrations of methanol vapor or from skin contact (http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ershdb/emer..._29750029.html).
A discussion of methanol poisoning can be found in moderator TG's comments in ProMED-mail post Methanol poisoning, fatal - India: (UP) 20150113.3088258. - Mod.ML
Last edited by a moderator:
http://allafrica.com/stories/201504210066.html [h=1]Nigeria: FG Blames Methanol Poisoning for Ondo Deaths[/h]
By Judd-Leonard Okafor Deaths of 18 people in two Ondo communities have been attributed to contaminated alcohol, federal health authorities said Monday.
The health ministry spoke of a "strong linkage of the outbreak with the consumption of a local gin that may have been contaminated with methanol."
Methanol smells like drinking alcohol (ethanol) but is very toxic and unfit for consumption, and in large quantities form compounds that poison the central nervous system, causing blindness, coma and death.
Mass deaths related to methanol poisoning have been reported in the past in places as Libya, where 51 people died in 2013, and Cambodia, where 318 people were hospitalized, and 49 died in 2012.
Officials suspect it may have been used in local gin in place of ethanol in the affected communities of Ayadi and Ode-Irele in Irele local government area of Ondo state.
{C}
"At this stage, the poisonous substance is being ascertained," said minister of state for health Fidelis Nwankwo.
"The results of these detailed investigations currently being conducted by government and partners are still being awaited and will be made public as soon as possible."
All 18 dead-all males, aged 22 to 75-died within four days last week, a speed that prompted public fear and the likelihood of an initial reporting of an outbreak.
They showed a combination of symptoms that include headache, blurred vision, sudden blindness, loss of speech, unconsciousness, before they died within 48 hours.
But both World Health Organisation and the federal health ministry confirmed that preliminary laboratory investigations ruled out any infectious bacterial or viral organism, including Ebola, as initially feared, as the cause of death.
Five more people are hospitalized at University College Hospital, Ibadan for treatment, said officials.
No new cases have been reported in the past 100 hours and no new mortality in the last 72 hours.
"We therefore believe the situation is under control and the that stability will be sustained," said Nwankwo.
But officials will continue searching active cases and tracing contacts of the dead, and have called on the public to reported suspected cases to nearest health centre for prompt investigation and treatment.
WHO country representative Rui Gama Vaz said, "What's important is to make sure we know the causes," insisting no definitive cause can be mentioned "unless there's final diagnosis from the lab."
By Judd-Leonard Okafor Deaths of 18 people in two Ondo communities have been attributed to contaminated alcohol, federal health authorities said Monday.
The health ministry spoke of a "strong linkage of the outbreak with the consumption of a local gin that may have been contaminated with methanol."
Methanol smells like drinking alcohol (ethanol) but is very toxic and unfit for consumption, and in large quantities form compounds that poison the central nervous system, causing blindness, coma and death.
Mass deaths related to methanol poisoning have been reported in the past in places as Libya, where 51 people died in 2013, and Cambodia, where 318 people were hospitalized, and 49 died in 2012.
Officials suspect it may have been used in local gin in place of ethanol in the affected communities of Ayadi and Ode-Irele in Irele local government area of Ondo state.
{C}
"At this stage, the poisonous substance is being ascertained," said minister of state for health Fidelis Nwankwo.
"The results of these detailed investigations currently being conducted by government and partners are still being awaited and will be made public as soon as possible."
All 18 dead-all males, aged 22 to 75-died within four days last week, a speed that prompted public fear and the likelihood of an initial reporting of an outbreak.
They showed a combination of symptoms that include headache, blurred vision, sudden blindness, loss of speech, unconsciousness, before they died within 48 hours.
But both World Health Organisation and the federal health ministry confirmed that preliminary laboratory investigations ruled out any infectious bacterial or viral organism, including Ebola, as initially feared, as the cause of death.
Five more people are hospitalized at University College Hospital, Ibadan for treatment, said officials.
No new cases have been reported in the past 100 hours and no new mortality in the last 72 hours.
"We therefore believe the situation is under control and the that stability will be sustained," said Nwankwo.
But officials will continue searching active cases and tracing contacts of the dead, and have called on the public to reported suspected cases to nearest health centre for prompt investigation and treatment.
WHO country representative Rui Gama Vaz said, "What's important is to make sure we know the causes," insisting no definitive cause can be mentioned "unless there's final diagnosis from the lab."
Pathfinder
Editor, Senior Moderator
FG links Ondo mysterious deaths to contaminated ogogoro
WHO denies making statement on the disease
By Hassan Zaggi - Correspondent, Abuja
...
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) has denied ever issuing any statment on the mysterious deaths.
...
Speaking, the Country Representative of the WHO, Dr Rui Gama Vaz, denied issuing any statement on the disease. He also tasked the Federal and Ondo state Governments to find the cause of the disease.
While disclaiming the statement being circulated in the country in the name of WHO, Vaz said: ?I did not, nor my office, make any statement. What we have agreed is that if there is any statement, this will be done together jointly by the Federal Ministry of Health and the WHO as we did for Ebola, as we did when we eradicated Guinea Worm, and all other diseases. So, this is not correct, the information that has been circulating about the disease is not from WHO Country office of Nigeria.?
...
http://dailyindependentnig.com/2015/...nated-ogogoro/
WHO denies making statement on the disease
By Hassan Zaggi - Correspondent, Abuja
...
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) has denied ever issuing any statment on the mysterious deaths.
...
Speaking, the Country Representative of the WHO, Dr Rui Gama Vaz, denied issuing any statement on the disease. He also tasked the Federal and Ondo state Governments to find the cause of the disease.
While disclaiming the statement being circulated in the country in the name of WHO, Vaz said: ?I did not, nor my office, make any statement. What we have agreed is that if there is any statement, this will be done together jointly by the Federal Ministry of Health and the WHO as we did for Ebola, as we did when we eradicated Guinea Worm, and all other diseases. So, this is not correct, the information that has been circulating about the disease is not from WHO Country office of Nigeria.?
...
http://dailyindependentnig.com/2015/...nated-ogogoro/
Emily
Editor, Senior Moderator
That article opens with the impression that methanol contamination is a certainty, yet immediately contradicts that with the quote that follows:
Then the article later quotes Nwankwo:
So the local gin is a link, but the method of poisoning is still unknown. This health warning on ogogoro emphasized herbal additives as a risk:
sharon sanders
Editor-in-Chief & President
The WHO statement in post 50 came directly to the FT mailbox from WHO so I am not sure what Dr. Vaz's denial is about. ???
http://allafrica.com/stories/201504221034.html
Nigeria: Ondo Bans Local Gin As Four More Persons Die
By Bola Ojuola Akure — The Ondo State government has banned the sale and consumption of the local gin popularly known as Ogogoro as four more people are reported to have died of the strange disease which claimed 18 lives in Irele LGA of the state last week.
Caretaker chairman of Irele LG, Elder Oladele Olatunji who confirmed the development, said two people died on Sunday in Ode-Ajagba, a neighbouring town to Irele while two others died same day in Gbogunron-Tedo.
According to him, seven of the victims are presently receiving treatment at the University College Hospital, (UCH) Ibadan.
It was gathered that the two victims who died in Ode-Ajagba, came to Irele briefly and went back home with the same symptoms as those earlier affected.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Dayo Adeyanju, said investigation had revealed that some victims consumed the local gin at a particular joint, hence the ban.
The state government is still awaiting the result of samples of the gin taken to Lagos on Saturday. It was gathered that the police may soon begin a clampdown on 'ogogoro' joints in the state.
The State Coordinator of WHO, Dr. Akinola Fatigerun, said the organization's earlier report said victims of the disease died of pesticides and aligned with the state government's submission on possible ethanol poisoning.
Nigeria: Ondo Bans Local Gin As Four More Persons Die
By Bola Ojuola Akure — The Ondo State government has banned the sale and consumption of the local gin popularly known as Ogogoro as four more people are reported to have died of the strange disease which claimed 18 lives in Irele LGA of the state last week.
Caretaker chairman of Irele LG, Elder Oladele Olatunji who confirmed the development, said two people died on Sunday in Ode-Ajagba, a neighbouring town to Irele while two others died same day in Gbogunron-Tedo.
According to him, seven of the victims are presently receiving treatment at the University College Hospital, (UCH) Ibadan.
It was gathered that the two victims who died in Ode-Ajagba, came to Irele briefly and went back home with the same symptoms as those earlier affected.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Dayo Adeyanju, said investigation had revealed that some victims consumed the local gin at a particular joint, hence the ban.
The state government is still awaiting the result of samples of the gin taken to Lagos on Saturday. It was gathered that the police may soon begin a clampdown on 'ogogoro' joints in the state.
The State Coordinator of WHO, Dr. Akinola Fatigerun, said the organization's earlier report said victims of the disease died of pesticides and aligned with the state government's submission on possible ethanol poisoning.
Twitter is now reporting that specific gin vendors are being sought for distributing contaminated gin:
https://twitter.com/hashtag/OndoX?src=hash
InStrat Globalhealth ?@InStratLLC 4h4 hours ago Irele LGA chairman orders arrests of suspected vendors of Ondo Methanol Contaminated Gin! @AmakaAnku #OndoX
(I have not yet read any reports of lab testing finding methanol in any victim or in any container of alcohol yet, despite the consensus on this diagnosis, so I am renaming this thread as "probable" methanol poisoning. - alert)
https://twitter.com/hashtag/OndoX?src=hash
InStrat Globalhealth ?@InStratLLC 4h4 hours ago Irele LGA chairman orders arrests of suspected vendors of Ondo Methanol Contaminated Gin! @AmakaAnku #OndoX
(I have not yet read any reports of lab testing finding methanol in any victim or in any container of alcohol yet, despite the consensus on this diagnosis, so I am renaming this thread as "probable" methanol poisoning. - alert)
Emily
Editor, Senior Moderator
Ronan Kelly
Retired 2020
Rivers Ogogoro saga: Death toll now 38
Posted by NewsNG On June 08, 2015
Buzz: 1
National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control, NAFADAC, has called for confiscation of all illegally brewed alcoholic beverages in Nigeria.
The agency also disclosed that 38 of the 41 victims of Rivers State dog and Ogogoro consumption tragedy have been confirmed dead, while the remaining four, who happens to be alive, have completely lost their senses.
...
He said: ?This follows a recent and similar occurrence in Ode-Irele, Ondo State, which also resulted in the sudden death of 18 people. ?In response to earlier report from Ondo State, a team of NAFDAC officers carried out investigation to ascertain the actual causes of the sudden death.
... ?The results of laboratory investigation revealed methanol toxicity. Five of the samples were found to contain high concentration of methanol in them; 4.53 to 16.92 per cent, which is equivalent to 4500mgL- 169,200m/L.
?Blood methanol concentrate above 1500-2000mg will certainly lead to death in untreated patients. The high concentration of methanol contained in the local gin is unwholesome and unfit for human consumption.?
...
Source: National Mirror News
http://newsng.com/nigeria-news/2015/06/rivers-ogogoro-saga-death-toll-now-38/
Posted by NewsNG On June 08, 2015
Buzz: 1
National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control, NAFADAC, has called for confiscation of all illegally brewed alcoholic beverages in Nigeria.
The agency also disclosed that 38 of the 41 victims of Rivers State dog and Ogogoro consumption tragedy have been confirmed dead, while the remaining four, who happens to be alive, have completely lost their senses.
...
He said: ?This follows a recent and similar occurrence in Ode-Irele, Ondo State, which also resulted in the sudden death of 18 people. ?In response to earlier report from Ondo State, a team of NAFDAC officers carried out investigation to ascertain the actual causes of the sudden death.
... ?The results of laboratory investigation revealed methanol toxicity. Five of the samples were found to contain high concentration of methanol in them; 4.53 to 16.92 per cent, which is equivalent to 4500mgL- 169,200m/L.
?Blood methanol concentrate above 1500-2000mg will certainly lead to death in untreated patients. The high concentration of methanol contained in the local gin is unwholesome and unfit for human consumption.?
...
Source: National Mirror News
http://newsng.com/nigeria-news/2015/06/rivers-ogogoro-saga-death-toll-now-38/