The World Health Organisation has said that Herbicide poisoning is the possible cause of death of over 18 people in Ode Irele, Irele Local government in Ondo state.
WHO spokesman Gregory Hartl in a tweet said “Current hypothesis is cause of the event is herbicides, tests done so far are negative for viral and bacterial infection.”
Those affected with the disease started showing symptoms around April 13 and 15, those who died suffered from blurred vision, headaches, loss of consciousness before dying within 24 hours.
The tests were carried out at the Lagos State Teaching Hospital.
Ondo State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Dayo Adeyanju at a news briefing in Akure said We were together with the WHO officials on active case search. We are looking for people with the disease. We have been calling on the people of the town who are down with the disease to come out and it is working. Five patients have been moved to the UCH and I know that their cases will be well-handled. The attention of the whole world is on it.
“The Ondo State Government will pay the bill, the patients are not going to pay, we just want them to come out so that we can find a solution to the disease.
“The disease is not contagious and it is not infectious. If it is contagious those treating them would have come down with the symptoms.”
Herbicides are chemicals used to kill weeds.
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