Maputo — There have now been 18 confirmed cases of cholera in the northern Mozambican province of Nampula since the outbreak of the disease on Saturday.

Seven of these cases were admitted to the cholera treatment ward on Monday, reports Tuesday's issue of the Maputo daily "Noticias".

The outbreak in Nampula city began in just two residential neighbourhoods, Namicopo and Muatala, but has now spread to at least three others (Napipine, Mutuanha and Muhala-Expansao).

One case was reported from an overcrowded Nampula prison. The head of the community health services in the Provincial Health Directorate, Antonio Salimo, expressed serious concern that the epidemic could spread very easily among the inmates of the jail, given its unhygienic conditions.

Salimo added that Memba district has been reporting cases of diarrhoea among adults, and it is feared that these are cholera cases. Samples were sent for analysis in the provincial laboratory.

Health authorities have dispatched more health staff to that coastal district, and brigades have also been reactivated for awareness campaigns about hygiene habits and water treatment.