Beware Of Eating Amala, If You Stay In Kogi State.

Nine people are reportedly dead already from consuming amala in Kogi State while others are battling with their lives. A 42-year-old woman and a boy, 10, who also ate the 'poisoned' cassava flour meal in Ogaminana area of Okene in Kogi, died on Thursday, November 3rd, at the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja, while the third victim is in critical condition. Also recently,  a woman, her three children and her neighbours's two kids died between Monday, Oct. 31 and Tuesday,Nov. 1, after eating a meal of cassava flour. The woman brought the cassava from her farmland at Ohuepe village, which she used to prepare dinner for her family and gave some of the food to her neighbour. The victims developed severe stomach pains hours later and died. The Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Olatunde Alabi told newsmen that three victims of the cassava flour meal were rushed to the hospital in critical condition on Wednesday morning from Ogaminana, Adavi Local Government Area, but two of them died Thursday morning. The boy died at about 4 a.m while the woman gave up the ghost at about 10 a.m, while the third victim, a girl said to be about 13 years, is in critical condition. Dr. Alabi confirmed that seven people actually died between Monday and Tuesday, and not six as reported.Although the cause of the deaths are yet to be officially confirmed, the hospital is suspecting cynaide poison.
"Clinically, we are saying we are suspecting cyanide poison," Alabi said, adding that the hospital staff did their best to save the victims.
A cyanide is any chemical compound that contains monovalent combining group CN. This group, known as the cyano group, consists of a carbon atom triple-bonded to a nitrogen atom. Cyanide poisoning is poisoning that results from exposure to a number of forms of cyanide. Early symptoms include headache, dizziness, fast heart rate, shortness of breath, and vomiting. This may than be followed by seizures, slow heart rate, low blood pressure, loss of consciousness, and cardiac arrest. Onset of symptoms is usually within a few minutes. If a person survives there may be long term neurological problems.
Toxic cyanide containing compounds include hydrogen cyanide gas and a number of cyanide salts. Poisoning is relatively common following breathing in smoke from a house fire. Other potential routes of exposure include workplaces involve in metal polishing, certain insecticides, and certain seeds such as those from apples. Liquid forms of cyanide can be absorbed through the skin. Cyanide ions interferes with cellular respiration resulting in the body's tissues being unable to use oxygen.

Diagnosis is often difficult. It may be suspected in a person following a house fire who has a decreased level of consciousness, low blood pressure, or high blood lactate. Blood levels of cyanide can be measured but take time. Levels of 0.5–1 mg/L are mild, 1–2 mg/L are moderate, 2–3 mg/L are severe, and greater than 3 mg/L generally result in death.
The person should be removed from the source of exposure and decontaminate. Treatment involves supportive care and giving the person 100% oxygen. Hydroxocobalamin appears to be useful as an antidote and is generally first line. Sodium thiosulphate may also be given. Historically cyanide has been used for mass suicide and by the Nazis for genocide.
Meanwhile, the state government has decided to send the blood samples of the victims for detoxincology test in South Africa.