The federal government on Tuesday refuted World Health Organization, WHO, claims that the disease that ravaged parts of Ondo state last week’s was caused by pesticide.

The government also said the disease crisis had been brought under control after 18 recorded deaths.

It said the main cause of the death was attributed to methanol poisoning.

Nigeria’s minister of state for health, Fidelis Nwankwo, said there had been no new cases of the strange ailment in the past 4 days.

He added that the ministry was carrying out intense investigations to reveal the type of methanol substance involved in the outbreak.

The disease which broke out in the Ode-Irele community of Ondo State last week, led to the death of several persons. The ensuing panic had led to many fleeing the communities in the area.

Residents said the disease spread rapidly around the community and killed its victims usually within the period of 24 hours after the initial development of symptoms which included loss of vision and severe headache.

WHO spokesman, Gregory Hartl, had said in a media statement that the “current hypothesis is cause of the event is herbicides”.

Officials from WHO were also said to have visited the town to carry out independent investigations.

Ondo State Health commissioner, Dayo Adeyanju, had said some youths drank an alcoholic beverage mixed with local herbs adding that the drink was poisonous and contained methanol.

He confirmed the death of 18 persons while 5 others were admitted for treatment.