Director General of National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration Control (NAFDAC) Dr Paul Orhii
- Warns sellers, producers
Paul Obi in Abuja
Following several deaths in Rivers and Ondo States due to food poisoning linked to consumption of local gin, popularly called ogogoro, the federal government on Monday banned its consumption.
Reacting to the death of 38 persons in Rivers State, the government said the recent deaths in Rivers State and Ode-Irele in Ondo State are associated with the consumption of locally made gin.
Addressing journalists, Director General of National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration Control (NAFDAC), Dr Paul Orhii, said a "preliminary investigation by the National Centre for Disease Control ( NCDC ) and WHO ruled out any infectious diseases and confirmed the possibility of poisoning as the cause and in turn advised NAFDAC to conduct further investigation.
"The symptoms suffered by victims included vomiting, abdominal pain, blurred vision, headache, dizziness and loss of consciousness with subsequent sudden deaths of 18 victims."
Orhii who was joined at the briefing by NCDC Director, Prof. Abdulrahman Nasidi, explained that all indications showed that "these symptoms are the hallmark signs of methanol poisoning."
The NAFDAC DG further stated that the "results of the laboratory investigation revealed methanol toxicity. Five samples were found to contain high concentration of methanol in them.
"Blood methanol concentration above 1500-2000mg/L will certainly lead to death in untreated patients," he said.
Following several deaths in Rivers and Ondo States due to food poisoning linked to consumption of local gin, popularly called ogogoro, the federal government on Monday banned its consumption.
Reacting to the death of 38 persons in Rivers State, the government said the recent deaths in Rivers State and Ode-Irele in Ondo State are associated with the consumption of locally made gin.
Addressing journalists, Director General of National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration Control (NAFDAC), Dr Paul Orhii, said a "preliminary investigation by the National Centre for Disease Control ( NCDC ) and WHO ruled out any infectious diseases and confirmed the possibility of poisoning as the cause and in turn advised NAFDAC to conduct further investigation.
"The symptoms suffered by victims included vomiting, abdominal pain, blurred vision, headache, dizziness and loss of consciousness with subsequent sudden deaths of 18 victims."
Orhii who was joined at the briefing by NCDC Director, Prof. Abdulrahman Nasidi, explained that all indications showed that "these symptoms are the hallmark signs of methanol poisoning."
The NAFDAC DG further stated that the "results of the laboratory investigation revealed methanol toxicity. Five samples were found to contain high concentration of methanol in them.
"Blood methanol concentration above 1500-2000mg/L will certainly lead to death in untreated patients," he said.
The NAFDAC boss said considering the high risk with the consumption of locally made gin, it has become imperative to "warn the public to desist from the consumption of unregistered locally made spirits (ogogoro) and other unregistered bitters."
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