WHO: The cholera epidemic in Mozambique is the worst in the last ten years

Mozambique is experiencing the worst cholera epidemic in the last ten years after the passage of Cyclone Fredi, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned today.

"Cholera outbreaks occur regularly in Mozambique between October and April, but this outbreak is the worst in ten years, with almost 21.000 cases of infection and 95 deaths," said the WHO representative in Mozambique.

According to him, the epidemic continues to spread geographically, noting that only in the past week five more districts of that African country were affected.

So far, 47 districts in eight of the country's 11 provinces have been affected.

Cholera is a highly contagious disease that can kill you in a few hours if you don't get medical help, and it usually occurs where hygiene conditions are poor.

Cholera appeared in Mozambique after the passage of Cyclone Fredi, which recently hit the southern part of Africa.

In Mozambique, the cyclone destroyed more than 132.000 homes and displaced 184.000 people, the WHO said, adding that more than 160 health facilities were damaged.

In addition to cholera, the spread of malaria is feared, WHO added.