A total of 23 people have now died from ethanol
poisoning blamed on locally brewed gin in southwest
Nigeria, the local health commissioner said on
Monday.
“The total number of deaths is 23,” Ondo state health
commissioner Dayo Adeyanju told AFP by telephone.
Last Monday the death toll stood at 18.
Adeyanju said the five additional deaths were those
taken to hospital when all the victims fell ill in the
town of Ode-Irele earlier this month and that there
were no new cases.
The mysterious symptoms and deaths raised fears of
a contagious disease but investigations ruled out
illnesses such as Ebola and other viral conditions.
Symptoms included headache, weight loss, blurred
vision and loss of consciousness. All the victims died
within a day of falling ill.
Adeyanju said the state government was investigating
the source of the batch of gin as well as trying to
improve the production of locally made alcohol to
improve the safety of consumers.
www.vanguardngr.com/2015/04/more-deaths-in-ondo-ogogoro-poisoning-health-official/