Angola cholera outbreak strikes nearly 200 people

At least 194 cases of cholera have been detected in one province of southern Angola since December 20, local media reported Friday.

Some 35 cases have been discovered in the last 48 hours, the director of the Cahama regional hospital told the Angolan press agency, Angop.

The bacterial disease is fuelled by poor sanitary standards, poor precautionary measures and the rainy season which accompanies the southern African summer.

Despite massive energy wealth, according to the national statistics institute 42% of the population has access to safe drinking water and 53% have toilets in their home.

The country was rocked by 18 390 cases of cholera in 2007, and in 2012 some 200 people died of the disease.