Ode-Irele Disease Might Be Caused By Consumption Of Local Alcohol- Adeyanju

The strange ailment that broke out in Ode-Irele, a town in the southern part of Ondo State might be as a result of the victim's consumption of a local alcohol.

The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Dayo Adeyanju made this disclosure while briefing journalists on the update of the situation.

Dr Adeyanju informed that the preliminary reports of tests carried out revealed that it is not a viral disease.

He added: “the deaths might have resulted from a methanol poison drank by some of the victims.”

Dr Adeyanju further said the result of the toxicology test to confirm this is still being expected from the University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan, Oyo State.

The Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, had disclosed last week that the symptoms observed in Ode-Irele, bear no resemblance to those associated with the Ebola Virus Disease or any known epidemic disease.

Governor Mimiko made the statement during a statewide broadcast on the strange ailment which had killed about 17.

The Governor added that investigations thus far have been in conjunction with development partners, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and from the report sent to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control. There are no new cases of the ailment in the last 48 hours and none in the hospital.

He further stated that trained volunteers for active surveillance and case management have been deployed, while advocacy and sensitization efforts are ongoing in print and on electronic media.
Meanwhile, Traditionalists in Ondo State Have linked the strange disease that has claimed several lives in the state to the desecration of a shrine.

The outbreak of the disease in the ancient town of Ode-Irele which is the headquarters of Irele Local Government Area of Ondo State has thrown residents into deep mourning.

In the ancient town, young women and girls were seen on Saturday fetching water and dipping a particular leaf in it and also pouring water in a shrine in the town.

According to the traditional beliefs of the people, the ailment might have emerged after some miscreants broke into the shrine few days back. The water and leaf are aimed at appeasing the gods.

Traditional priests in the town, Isaac Akingboye and Akinmola Adegbenro, believe that a traditional god called Malokun had some days ago entered the town, which led to the strange ailment and deaths.