Maputo — The cholera outbreaks in northern and central Mozambique have now killed 41 people out of the 2,601 cases notified, according to the spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, Leonardo Chavane.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Chavane said that the situation remains worrying, because the number of cases is rising, and some of the provinces with cholera outbreaks are now affected by flooding, which is likely to spread the disease.

"The floods provide fertile conditions for contamination of sources of drinking water", said Chavane. Wells have been submerged, and it was very likely that faecal matter could enter the water supply.

The Health Ministry was thus working to guarantee access by communities to water purification substances, such as chlorine.

Chavane said that the worst hit province is Zambezia which, from 1 January until Thursday morning had reported 1,099 cases and 19 deaths. The vast majority of these cases - 959 - were diagnosed in the district of Gurue.

Cabo Delgado, in the far north, has recorded 643 cases and seven deaths. The worst hit area is the provincial capital, Pemba. In Niassa there have been 534 cases and 13 deaths, in Sofala 195 cases and one death, and in Nampula 130 cases and one death.

The wave of attacks on health centres, caused by rumours that health workers were spreading cholera rather than fighting it, appears to have ended. This month there have been no new cases of disinformation and vandalism. Chavane attributed this success to efforts made, in communities and schools, to inform citizens of the true causes of cholera and how it can be prevented.