Ten-year-old boy Edison Machilika has died while four others have been admitted to Mulanje District Hospital due to suspected food poisoning.

Mulanje Police spokesperson Gresham Ngwira said this happened after a woman treated weevil-infested maize with Actelic dust and 11 children, aged between four and 15 years, later prepared and consumed nsima contaminated with the powder.

The food samples will be sent to Bvumbwe Research Station for examination.

Those affected are from Matimati Village, Traditional Authority Njema, in Mulanje District.