Africa: Cholera kills five

Five more people died from cholera and another 20 were treated for the gastrointestinal disease in a township near the Zimbabwe capital Harare, a state-owned newspaper reported today.

Health authorities reported the new outbreak, bringing to 27 the number of cholera deaths since seasonal rains began in November in the Domboramwari district in sprawling Epworth township, about 20 miles south of Harare, the state Herald said.

It was suspected the victims, aged between five and 43, drank contaminated water at a funeral last week. Twenty mourners were undergoing treatment during the weekend. Eight people died in the central and north-western districts of Kwekwe and Gokwe last week. Three died in western Harare last month.