Ondo Deaths Under Control --FG

The Federal Government on Monday allayed fears over the outbreak of a
mysterious disease in two affected communities - Ayadi and Ode-Irele
in Irele Local Government Area of Ondo State, saying "the situation is
under control."

Also, the Ondo State Commissioner for Health,, Dr. Dayo Adeyanju, said
that the five victims of the disease were responding well to treatment
at the University College Hospital, Ibadan.

The Minister of State for Heath, Mr. Fidelis Nwankwo, told journalists
at a press briefing in Abuja that epidemiological findings indicated
strong linkage of the outbreak with the consumption of a local gin
that "may have been contaminated with methanol."

He said the poisonous substance was being investigated, adding that
the result of the detailed investigations currently being conducted by
government and partners were still being awaited and would be made
public as soon as possible.

Nwankwo said, "The assuring news however is that no new cases have
been reported in the past 100 hours and no new mortality in the last
72 hours. We therefore believe that the situation is under control and
that stability will be sustained, while active case search and contact
tracing will continue. However, if any suspected case is found, it
should be reported to the nearest health centre for prompt
investigation and treatment."

The minister, who said victims of the illness were males aged between
22 and 75 years, also said they mostly exhibited headache, blurring of
vision, sudden blindness, loss of speech, unconsciousness and sudden
death within 48 hours.

He explained further that as at the last count, 18 out of the 23
victims had died, while the remaining five, were receiving treatment
at University College Hospital, Ibadan.

Nwankwo, however, assured that government would continue to work with
relevant agencies to get to the root of the scourge.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation Country Representative, Dr.
Rui Gama Vaz, has denied issuing any statement on the disease, as
reported in some section of the media.

He also tasked the federal and Ondo State governments to find the
cause of the disease.
--PUNCH