The Kwara State Government has confirmed the death of four individuals in Eruda community, Olorun West Local Government Area, after consuming Amala, a popular local delicacy. The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Amina El-Imam, disclosed this at a news conference on Tuesday in Ilorin, adding that another person had also died from gastroenteritis.
Following the incident, Dr. El-Imam stated that the state government had placed the healthcare system on Outbreak Response Mode. The entire health team of the ministry visited the community after receiving a report about the family that lost members due to the consumption of yam flour.
“On getting there, the claim was that there was an instance of food poisoning where a 70-year-old woman fell ill and died after consuming amala,” El-Imam said. “Unfortunately, her son and grandchildren 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 noted that the amala mixed with ‘lafun’ might have been responsible for the deaths. She clarified that those who consumed yam flour without lafun were fine, but those who consumed the mixture fell ill, with some eventually dying.
The commissioner stated that survivors were receiving treatment in hospitals and were expected to recover fully following intensive medical care. She observed that the affected individuals were living in conditions with suboptimal personal and environmental hygiene.
El-Imam attributed the incident to food poisoning, caused by under-processed cassava used in the meal’s preparation. An initial rapid diagnostic test for cholera was conducted, but the cases were later confirmed to be gastroenteritis.
The commissioner also reported one death from gastroenteritis in Osin Gada
