Irele Disease: Ondo Warns Residents against Ogogoro

The Ondo State government has warned against the consumption of local dry gin, also known as “Ogogoro” as indication emerged that victims of the strange disease in Irele could have died from methanol poisoning.

The Commissioner for Health ‎in the state, Dr. DayoAdeyanju, gave the warning on Monday, while updating journalists on the effort of the state government to contain the spread of the disease.

Dr. Adeyanju said the state government has begun sensitisation on why people should avoid taking all manner of local gin, especially those mixed with herbs at this period.

He disclosed that the source of the strange disease, believed to be as a result of heavy intake of poisonous alcoholic substance, taken by the victims in Irele community was still very difficult to trace.

The Health Commissioner maintained that the casualty figure of death still remains 18, while five persons were presently receiving treatment at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH), Ibadan, Oyo State.

He assured that the state government is on top of the situation and stressed that the final report on the investigations into the mysterious deaths, especially the toxicology test would soon be made public.

Also speaking at the briefing, the state coordinator of World Health Organisation (WHO),Dr. AkinolaFatigerun, ‎disclaimed the organisation from its earlier reports that the victims of the #IreleOutbreak died from pesticide and aligned with the government’s position of methanol poisoning.

Earlier, members of the Irele Outbreak team, led by the Health Commissioner,‎ visited the governor to brief him on their activities so far during which Mimiko commended them for their pro-activeness.