Four people have reportedly died from food poisoning while another one died from gastroenteritis in Ilorin, Kwara State.
The people who were residents of Eruda community in Ilorin reportedly died after eating yam flour (Amala).
The state commissioner for Health, Dr Amina El- Imam confirmed the development yesterday.
She said the government has placed the healthcare system on ‘Outbreak Response Mode’ after confirmation of four deaths in the Eruda community, as a result of food poisoning from ‘amala ‘ and one death from gastroenteritis.
The commissioner said a team from the ministry visited the Eruda after a report of a family who lost a number of their relatives, after consumption of the local delicacy.
“On getting there, the claim was that there was an instance of food poisoning where the 70-year-old woman fell ill and died after consuming ‘amala’.
“Unfortunately, her son and grandkids also consumed the same food, fell ill and died. They were taken to the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, where they passed away,” El-Imam said.
El-Imam stated that the amala made from Lafun could have been responsible for the death, adding that” this is a case of chemical food poisoning, potentially due to under-processed cassava used in the production of ‘Lafun’.
“We have four more cases recovering at the moment, in addition to the four we unfortunately lost.” She disclosed that one death was recorded at Osin Gada, Ilorin, as a result of gastroenteritis.”
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