The Canadian government has warned its citizens in Nigeria to exercise caution when consuming alcohol, following an outbreak of suspected methanol poisoning in Ondo State that has left at least 48 people dead.
In an updated travel advisory issued on September 21, Canadian authorities warned travellers about casualties linked to the consumption of unregulated and adulterated alcoholic drinks containing high levels of methanol. The advisory urged Canadians to buy alcohol only from reputable establishments and seek medical attention if they begin to feel unwell after drinking.
The warning follows a reported outbreak in parts of Ondo State, particularly Odigbo and Irele Local Government Areas, where Nigerian health authorities have recorded 182 cases of severe illness and 48 confirmed deaths as of September 17, according to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
NAFDAC said laboratory analysis of 15 unlabelled samples of locally prepared alcoholic and herbal concoctions found high concentrations of methanol. The agency also reported that 11 of the samples tested positive for Cannabis indica, while stressing that further testing was ongoing to establish the precise concentration of methanol and identify other potentially harmful substances.
Methanol is a highly toxic form of alcohol that can cause serious poisoning, including visual impairment, blindness, organ failure and death.
Some victims of the Ondo outbreak reportedly developed symptoms including headaches, weakness, body pain, visual disturbances, breathing difficulties and altered consciousness. NAFDAC said five affected people had become totally blind, while two others suffered partial blindness.
The Canadian advisory did not itself state that 48 people had died, but the warning coincides with the figures released by Nigerian authorities following the Ondo outbreak.
Authorities have arrested 15 suspects in connection with the suspected production, sale and distribution of the implicated drinks, while investigations, surveillance and public-health measures continue.
NAFDAC has also urged members of the public to avoid unlicensed, unregistered and locally prepared alcoholic or herbal products whose contents and safety cannot be verified.
The Canadian government’s warning has added an international travel-safety dimension to the health emergency, particularly for foreign visitors who may be unfamiliar with locally produced alcoholic beverages.
Canadian citizens in Nigeria have therefore been advised to exercise caution when purchasing alcohol and to seek medical assistance promptly if they develop symptoms after consumption.
Post a Comment