The death toll of people who died from suspected food poisoning at Kayova Village in the Kavango East Region has increased to 13.

The Health Director for Kavango East, Waita Kapumburo, confirmed to nbc News that the number of people who are suspected to have eaten poisoned food was actually 20 and not 18, as earlier indicated.

Kapumburo also confirmed that of the 20 people, 13 have so far died, while four are in critical condition.

They are all from the same household and aged between two and 33.

The family members were initially admitted to Nyangana Hospital on Saturday night, where the first two deaths were reported in the early hours of Sunday.

The rest were later transferred to Rundu State Hospital.

The Ministry of Health and Social Services has deployed a team of social workers to provide psychosocial support and counselling to the bereaved family.

The officials from the ministry will also provide education to members of the community on food preparation while highlighting the dangers of mixing food with potentially contaminated materials.

A statement issued by the Ministry of Health and Social Services indicated that the family members consumed poisonous or toxic porridge made with pearl millet or mahangu flour and added dried and pounded fermented sediment from a homemade beverage or beer locally known as mundevere.