The Ghana Health Service (GHS) in the North East Region says it has begun investigations into the suspected waterborne disease at the Bunbuazio community in the East Mamprusi Municipality.

During JoyNews' visit to the community, the residents alleged that at least five people had lost their lives and five others were left in critical conditions following the consumption of the suspected contaminated water.

According to the residents, several others are being treated with intestinal infections of a similar nature and therefore called on authorities to come to their aid.

Speaking in an interview with JoyNews, the Municipal Health Director of the Service, Mark Abugri, said a team had been dispatched to the community to investigate the occurrences.

“I immediately sent my men there to go and find out what the situation is and they have gone there, I’m yet to receive a report from them.”

Although the source of the strange deadly disease is yet to be identified, the residents were certain that it is associated with the community's source of drinking water.

“So I ask them to go and find out whether indeed those cases that were said to have emanated from their community are real," Mr Abugri said.

As part of the investigation process, GHS will further make enquiries at the hospital the residents claim to have visited for more information.

This, the Health Director said will enable the service to understand the actual situation "before we will be able to know what exactly we are dealing with."

“And I have also asked them (the team deployed) to try and get some information about the cases that we will use to follow up at the hospital to find out whether indeed they went to the hospital and what were the diagnoses, I think that will let us know what exactly we are dealing with."