A deadly wave of alcohol poisoning caused by a local concoction known as ‘monkey tail’ has claimed at least 48 lives and left 134 others hospitalized across Ondo State, health authorities confirmed on Tuesday.

The tragic breakthrough was made public following a joint laboratory investigation by the National Medical Association (NMA) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) Liaison Committee. According to officials, chemical analysis of samples retrieved from Odigbo, Irele, and surrounding Local Government Areas revealed lethal concentrations of industrial methanol mixed with Cannabis indica.

Out of 182 individuals affected by the toxic batch so far, 48 fatalities have been recorded, while the survival of many hangs in the balance. The chemical aftermath has also proven catastrophic for survivors, leaving five victims permanently blind and two others with partial visual impairment.

Dr. Azim Adekunle Ashimi, Chairman of the NMA-NAFDAC Liaison Committee, explained that methanol is an industrial solvent strictly prohibited from human consumption. He noted that once ingested, the human liver metabolizes the chemical into formic acid, a highly toxic compound that aggressively destroys the optic nerve and retinal cells.

According to medical findings, this destructive metabolic process triggers rapid bodily failure. Victims across the affected local government areas presented with severe headaches, abdominal pain, generalized weakness, altered consciousness, acute breathing difficulties, and a distinct blurred or "snowfield" vision before collapsing.

In response to the escalating health crisis, the committee has issued an urgent medical alert to healthcare providers in Ondo and neighboring states. Doctors and clinicians have been advised to maintain a high index of suspicion for patients exhibiting sudden blindness or unexplained metabolic failure following the consumption of local herbal or alcoholic mixtures.

Dr. Ashimi emphasized that saving remaining victims requires immediate and aggressive medical intervention, including prompt resuscitation, airway management, and urgent haemodialysis where indicated. Meanwhile, law enforcement agencies have intensified operations, leading to the arrest of 15 suspects linked to the distribution of the lethal batch.

To prevent future tragedies, the NMA-NAFDAC committee is demanding a total federal crackdown on informal distilleries, illegal herbal blending hubs, and open-market distribution loops. They have also called for an aggressive nationwide public sensitization campaign alongside stricter regulatory tracking of industrial methanol to block its illegal diversion into consumer beverages.