"Just Two Glasses Led to Blindness"... The True Nature of the Alcohol that Claimed 48 Lives

"Alcohol Containing Methanol Can Cause Kidney Failure and Blindness Depending on the Amount Consumed"

In Ondo State, southern Nigeria, at least 48 people have died and over 100 have received medical treatment in the past two weeks after consuming alcohol suspected to contain methanol.

Rash of Victims from Suspected Methanol-Contaminated Alcohol

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According to the Associated Press on September 17 (local time), local residents suspect that methanol may have been mixed into a local herbal beverage known as "Monkey Tail." Monkey Tail is an alcoholic drink made by mixing plant roots or cannabis with Ogogoro, a strong spirit produced through the fermentation of sap from the raffia palm tree.

A patient currently being treated in hospital after the incident told a local broadcaster, "I drank two glasses on the 11th, and the next day I couldn’t see." Banji Ajaka, Ondo State health official, warned about the alcohol, saying, "Once ingested, depending on the amount, it can cause kidney failure, blindness, and brain damage."

Methanol is an alcohol compound used in industrial fuel, which can cause fatal poisoning if it enters the human body. However, in some developing nations, methanol is frequently added to counterfeit alcohol to increase profit margins.

Ondo State police announced that, so far, 15 people have been arrested in connection with this incident.

Monkeytail sold at a shop in Odigbo, Nigeria. Photo by AP Yonhap News

Series of Accidents Involving Counterfeit Alcohol Containing Methanol

This is not the first time that deaths have occurred due to counterfeit alcohol laced with methanol. In October last year, at least 41 people died from methanol poisoning after consuming alcohol of unknown origin in a village near Saint Petersburg in Leningrad Oblast, Russia. Police searched businesses suspected of distributing counterfeit alcohol in the region and arrested a total of 14 people. Local media reported that, with official spirits becoming increasingly expensive in Russia, it is not uncommon for people to consume alcohol from dubious sources.

Meanwhile, to avoid methanol poisoning while traveling overseas, it is safest to consume alcohol only from licensed liquor stores, hotels, or official bars. Alcohol purchased from street vendors or informal sellers should be avoided. Travelers should also be wary of excessively cheap or unidentified free drinks. If you develop symptoms such as headache, vomiting, blurred vision, or abdominal pain that suggest methanol poisoning, seek medical attention immediately.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.