The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has disclosed that five people have been rendered completely blind following the suspected herbal poisoning incident in Ondo State.
NAFDAC also said two other victims suffered partial blindness, while the death toll from the incident had risen to 48.
The agency disclosed this while providing an update on the suspected poisoning linked to locally prepared alcoholic and herbal concoctions in Odigbo and Irele Local Government Areas of the state.
According to NAFDAC, 90 affected persons were admitted to hospitals and later discharged, while 31 others received treatment as outpatients. Six victims, however, remained hospitalised as of the latest update.
The agency said the reported symptoms included headache, general body weakness and pain, visual disturbances, difficulty breathing and altered consciousness.It added that some of the cases deteriorated rapidly.
NAFDAC noted that the incident, initially reported in Odigbo, had spread to Irele Local Government Area, stressing that the figures remained subject to ongoing verification.The development followed an earlier report that 29 people had died from the suspected herbal poisoning, with 60 suspected cases recorded at the time.
Methanol, cannabis detected in suspected drinksNAFDAC said 15 unlabelled samples of the suspected concoctions were subjected to acute oral toxicity testing, chemical analysis using gas chromatography and microbiological examination.
The agency said preliminary laboratory findings were concerning, with 11 of the 15 samples testing positive for cannabis indica.Gas chromatography also confirmed the presence of high concentrations of methanol in the samples.
Methanol is a highly toxic substance that can cause severe poisoning, including blindness, organ failure and death.
NAFDAC further disclosed that acute oral toxicity tests recorded approximately 50 per cent mortality among laboratory mice exposed to six of the samples tested, indicating significant toxic potential.
The agency said confirmatory tests were still being conducted to determine the exact concentration of methanol and identify any additional toxic substances present in the concoctions.
15 arrested over suspected production, distributionNAFDAC also disclosed that 15 people had been arrested in connection with the suspected production, sale and distribution of the implicated beverages.
The agency said surveillance, case management and risk-control measures were ongoing in the affected communities in collaboration with relevant public health authorities.
NAFDAC warned Nigerians against buying or consuming unlicensed, unregistered or locally prepared alcoholic and herbal concoctions whose contents and safety could not be verified.
The agency urged anyone who develops sudden visual disturbances, severe headache, difficulty breathing or altered consciousness after consuming such substances to seek immediate medical attention.
NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, commiserated with the families of those who lost their lives in the incident.She assured the public that necessary regulatory measures were being taken to address the situation and prevent further harm.
