23 Jan 2009

Cholera spreading to rural Zimbabwe

10:06 pm on 23 January 2009

The main impact of Zimbabwe's cholera epidemic has shifted from urban areas to rural areas, making its containment much harder, a medical charity says.

Medecins Sans Frontieres told the BBC that the disease was spreading to remote areas, while cases in some urban areas, like the capital Harare, were decreasing.

The United Nations says at least 2,755 people have now died - a 20% rise in a week.

Another 48,000 people have been infected by the deadly but treatable disease.

The rainy season could lead to even more infections, as water sources become contaminated, aid workers warn.

Medecins Sans Frontieres Zimbabwe representative Manuel Lopez said that small villages off the main roads were now being affected following the Christmas holidays, when urban residents went home.