Two people hospitalized with symptoms of anthrax infection have died in Kazakhstan's central city of Qaraghandy.
The Qaraghandy regional health directorate said on June 21 that a 50-year-old man and 33-year-old woman died.
It said five other patients, including a 10-year-old boy with similar symptoms, remain in the hospital.
All of the patients are from the village of Erkindik and were hospitalized since June 19.
The regional health directorate's spokeswoman said a specific diagnosis on the cause of the deaths would be available on June 22.
Health authorities have been sent to the village as part of an investigation.