Five children of the indigenous group Chimila died of a mysterious respiratory infection in the department of Magdalena, reported Radio Santa Fe Thursday.
According to the department’s governor, Manuel Jose Bonett Locarno, the infection has yet to be “clearly defined” by hospitals in the region because members of the Chimila group have not allowed full access to the sick patients and corpses.
Locarno explained that there are at least 23 people who are presenting similar symptoms, and that they were transferred to different medical facilities in the region for treatment.
According to the report, a hospital in the city of Barranquilla accepted three young children who were in poor health condition.
A medical team has been sent to the department to assess the situation.