Amanze Chinonye
Canada has stepped up health guidance for travellers to Nigeria, urging them to avoid unregulated alcohol and buy drinks only from reputable outlets after a methanol-linked outbreak in southwestern Ondo State killed 48 people and left 182 others ill.
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The intervention comes as Nigerian authorities investigate contaminated locally produced alcoholic and herbal drinks and seek to identify those responsible for their production and distribution.
Canada’s updated travel advisory warns that consuming adulterated alcohol containing high levels of methanol can cause serious illness and death.
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The advisory urges travellers to seek medical attention if they become unwell after consuming alcohol. The warning adds an international public-health precaution to measures being taken by Nigeria’s National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), which has tested suspected products and warned the public against consuming unlicensed drinks of unknown composition.
NAFDAC said laboratory analysis of 15 unlabelled samples detected high concentrations of methanol. The agency said confirmatory testing was continuing to establish the precise concentration and determine whether other toxic substances were present. Seven victims had suffered total or partial blindness, it said.
Nigerian police have arrested 15 people suspected of involvement in the production, sale and distribution of the implicated beverages as investigations continue. NAFDAC said 11 of the 15 samples also tested positive for Cannabis indica, while toxicity tests on six samples resulted in about 50% mortality among laboratory mice.
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As of Sept. 17, NAFDAC said 90 patients had been hospitalised and discharged, 31 had received outpatient treatment and six remained hospitalised. The agency has advised anyone who develops visual disturbances, severe headache, difficulty breathing or altered consciousness after consuming suspected drinks to seek immediate medical attention.
Canada’s warning is separate from its broader security assessment of Nigeria. Its advisory continues to recommend against non-essential travel to Nigeria, including Abuja, because of risks such as terrorism, crime, armed attacks and kidnapping, while travellers to Lagos and Calabar are advised to exercise a high degree of caution.
Amanze Chinonye is a Staff Correspondent at Prime Business Africa, a rising star in the literary world, weaving captivating stories that transport readers to the vibrant landscapes of Nigeria and the rest of Africa. With a unique voice that blends with the newspaper's tradition and style, Chinonye's writing is a masterful exploration of the human condition, delving into themes of identity, culture, and social justice. Through her words, Chinonye paints vivid portraits of everyday African life, from the bustling markets of Nigeria's Lagos to the quiet villages of South Africa's countryside . With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the complexities of Nigerian society, Chinonye's writing is both a testament to the country's rich cultural heritage and a powerful call to action for a brighter future. As a writer, Chinonye is a true storyteller, using her dexterity to educate, inspire, and uplift readers around the world.
