KULOB, February 24, 2012, Asia-Plus -- Twenty-two people diagnosed with acute poisoning were hospitalized in the city of Kulob on February 23.

Mirali Mirzoaliyev, deputy head of the Khatlon health directorate in charge for the Kulob region, says five of them died on the night of February 23-24.

“They have got poisoned after eating food contaminated by toxic substance,” said Mirzoaliyev.  “All of them participated in funeral ceremony of their relative and they got poisoned after eating ‘atolla” (Tajik national pottage) that was seasoned with unknown chemical substance instead of salt by mistake.”

According to him, five persons are already out of hospital and eleven others are also preparing for discharge from the hospital, only one, whose health condition is assessed as moderately severe, will remain in the hospital.