The death toll from Zimbabwe’s worst ever cholera epidemic has climbed to over 3,000, with more than 57,000 infected by the water-borne disease, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported Wednesday.

Cholera patient drinks treated water at Budiriro Polyclinic in Harare January 22, 2009. The death toll from Zimbabwe’s worst ever cholera epidemic has climbed to over 3,000, with more than 57,000 infected by the water-borne disease, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported Wednesday.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Meanwhile, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) announced that around 500,000 Zimbabweans are set to benefit from its so-called “Safety Net” activities that support school-based feeding, people affected by HIV/AIDS and mobile and vulnerable populations.

The WFP’s cholera response has begun in Manicaland and Masvingo provinces. In addition, it has established three new partnerships supporting people in seven districts.

Cholera is a diarrhoeal disease caused by infection of the intestine. In five to 10 percent of cases, patients develop severe watery diarrhoea and vomit from six hours to five days after exposure to the bacterium. Death can occur within hours and those who are malnourished or already have intestinal parasites can be at especially high risk of death.

VietNamNet/Xinhuanet