By Rafiu Ajakaye
LAGOS
Authorities in Nigeria's southwest Ondo State have put at 23 the number of people killed from what they described as methanol poisoning.
"A total of 33 people were affected, 23 dead while 10 are still alive," Dayo Adeyanju, the state's health commissioner, tweeted on Sunday.
He said methanol poisoning of local gin had been responsible for the ailment whose symptoms included sudden blindness, unconsciousness and quick death.
Adeyanju said the state government has banned consumption of the gin, called Ogogoro in local parlance, pending the outcome of several ongoing lab tests.
Asked if the government expects to record more casualties, the official said "there is possibility of more deaths being reported."
Adeyanju said two of the 10 survivors have since regained their sights while others are "recuperating."
Earlier in April, Nigeria announced that at least 17 people had been confirmed dead in Ondo following the outbreak of an unknown disease.
The victims had died within 24 hours of showing the symptoms, which included headache, blurred vision, loss of sight and loss of consciousness.
Gregory Hartl, a World Health Organization (WHO) official, then linked the deaths to herbicides.
