Two people have died, while three others are in hospital after consuming the meat from animals suspected to have been infected with Anthrax disease at Widnaba, in the Bawku West District of the Upper East Region.

District Director of Health, Benjamin Aggrey, told the Ghana News Agency after a brief sensitization programme organized by the District Health Administration (DHA) in the community that the two ate meat from dead cattle that had fallen ill.

However, on March 1, when the animals fell sick again some people ate the meat and afterwards showed symptoms of anthrax.

Mr Aggrey said investigations by the DHA revealed that the deaths were caused by the disease.

He said medicines were dispatched to the area on Monday to cater for about 30 people including the two families of the deceased who consumed the carcasses, to prevent further deaths.

The Director advised the chief and people to desist from eating the meat of dead animals without proper examination by veterinary officers.

The Assembly man of the area, Mr Elisha Asoswuni, said the animals of five farmers were affected, one losing eight cattle and 16 sheep.

Divisional Chief of the area, Naba Ramson Anamor Akotam II, commended the prompt response of the Health Directorate and said he would personally disseminate the information to his people.

District Veterinary Officer, Mr Alhassan Iddi, said only one community had so far been affected but the technical officers were in the area to assess the situation, while they awaited vaccines for the animals.