Tamale, June 26, GNA - Five persons died mysteriously at Bekambombey in the Zabzugu/Tatale District after eating a meal in a farm.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Angwubutoge Awuni, Northern Regional Commander of Police told the GNA in Tamale on Friday that one Attah Tidame engaged the services of three labourers; Cosi Adam 26 and others only identified as Ngosenbe 28, Mashin 25 and two of his sons; Padoo 25 and Attah 16 on his farm on June 20.

ACP Awuni said after they worked for some time, they stopped to take their meal and whilst they were eating, a farmer nearby heard an unusual noise and rushed to the scene only to meet the six lying helplessly after the meal.

ACP Awuni said the farmer who could not help them alone rushed to Tatale town to raise an alarm and relatives of the victims with the company of some residents thronged to the scene only to meet them lying helplessly.

Four of them died before the residents got there, while Attah Tidame and one of his sons who were then in a critical condition, but the son die shortly on the way to the Tatale clinic. The commander said health experts confirmed the death of the five and referred Attah Tidame to the Yendi Government Hospital, where he is responding to treatment.

Bodies of the five deceased had been deposited at the Yendi Government Hospital for autopsy, while the food and the water they used have been taken for forensic examination. ACP Awuni advised the public to desist from eating dead animals adding that there were reports of anthrax outbreak in some parts of the Upper East Region.