The death of a 70-year-old grandmother, her son and two other family members in the Eruda community, Ilorin, in Ilorin West Local Government Area of the state has led the government in the state to place the Healthcare in Outbreak Response Mode.
The recent decision was reached after the death of the individuals was confirmed by the government of the state. In the revelation, the individual was said to have died after eating an Amala meal said to have been poisoned.
Speaking on the incident, the state Commissioner of Health, Dr Amina El-Imam, explained that the deceased had died after eating an Amala that was believed to have been poisoned.
In the press conference organized by the state capital Ilorin authorities, the commissioner, El-Imam, explained that no death was recorded from gastroenteritis.
She explained that the entire ministry staff visited the victim’s residence. When the government received the information, she noted that the Amala was made from cassava flour.
The commissioner noted that on arrival in the community, most individuals claimed that the victims died of food poisoning. She further noted that the 70-year-old woman was the first to die from the incident.
The other victims from the incident, according to her, were the son of the woman and her grandchild, who had consumed the same food.
In an effort to save the victims, the woman noted the victims had been rushed to the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, where they passed away after several efforts from the medical personnel.
She also explained that the preliminary investigation had revealed that those who ate the Amala made from Lafun died while others who ate the Amala with Lafun were all okay, which suggests that the Lafun (Casava Flour) was the poisonous product.
The commissioner disclosed that several others were recovering well in the hospitals where they were receiving treatment after the suspicion of poisoning.
She agreed that the environmental hygiene of the areas where the individuals had resided was not good enough, which was discouraging upon assessment.
El-Imam stated that this is a case of chemical food poisoning, which could be through the conclusive presscin of the Casava that was used in processing the Lafun.
