Methanol-tainted drink kills 48 in Nigeria: food agency

The deaths occurred in three districts of Nigeria's southwestern Ondo state after victims consumed the locally brewed mixture, which local media said is known as "Monkey Tail".

The first cases were reported earlier this month and the toll has gradually been rising.

Authorities have arrested 15 people in connection with production and sale of the drink, the agency said.

The country's National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) said in a statement that after people bought and consumed locally prepared "alcoholic and herbal concoctions",  "48 deaths and 182 cases have been recorded".

Laboratory tests showed the presence of "high concentrations of methanol", a deadly alcohol compound, and the indica strain of cannabis in samples of the suspected concoction, the agency said.

Methanol is highly toxic and causes death by organ failure as well as blindness.

NAFDAC said five people had been made totally blind and two partially lost their sight.