{
  "id": 8382898,
  "title": "NAFDAC Links Ondo Deaths to High Methanol Intoxication",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/nafdac-links-ondo-deaths-to-high-methanol-intoxication",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-09-19T04:13:37.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "This Day",
    "slug": "this-day",
    "url": "https://www.thisdaylive.com/2026/09/19/nafdac-links-ondo-deaths-to-high-methanol-intoxication/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has connected a recent spate of deaths in Ondo State to high methanol intoxication from locally made alcoholic and herbal mixtures. Laboratory testing of samples gathered from impacted regions confirmed the presence of a considerable amount of methanol, a hazardous chemical that can lead to blindness, organ failure, and death even in small doses. In a statement released by NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, the Agency reported that 11 out of the 15 examined samples also contained traces of Cannabis indica. The outbreak, initially detected in early September 2026 in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State, has thus far documented 182 instances with 48 fatalities. The affected areas encompass New Town, Odole, Okele, Orita Odigbo, Araromi-Obu, and Oniparaga, with the crisis being particularly severe in Odigbo Town and Araromi-Obu. Early reports had initially recorded 31 deaths — 20 in Odigbo Town and 11 in Araromi-Obu — but this number has since increased as further investigations uncovered additional cases. As of September 17, 2026, NAFDAC indicated that out of the 182 affected individuals, 90 had been discharged, six are still hospitalized, 31 were treated as outpatients, while five individuals became entirely blind and two became partially blind. The Agency listed the main symptoms reported among the sufferers to comprise headaches, general body weakness, pain, visual disturbances, breathing difficulties, and altered consciousness, with some conditions rapidly worsening. NAFDAC stated that acute oral toxicity tests on the samples revealed critically ill mice and approximately 50 percent mortality in six of the 15 samples analyzed, suggesting a high level of toxicity. Nevertheless, there is a possibility that those who recovered might still die if exposed to a second dose. Chemical screening with Gas Chromatography confirmed high methanol levels in the beverages. The Agency emphasized that the combination of the high mortality rate in animal testing and the confirmed methanol contamination strongly indicates that the samples constitute a severe public health threat. These findings necessitate immediate regulatory action to prevent further harm. NAFDAC noted that further confirmatory testing is ongoing to determine the precise methanol concentration and identify other potential toxic substances. Methanol in oral preparations poses a significant risk, as ingestion can result in severe poisoning leading to blindness, organ failure, and death. NAFDAC warned that investigations have resulted in the arrest of 15 individuals linked to the suspected production, sale, and distribution of the implicated locally produced alcoholic/herbal beverages.",
  "summary": "Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has linked the recent deaths in Ondo State to high methanol intoxication from locally prepared",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}