Angolan Deputy Minister of Health Jose Van-Dunem has said that cholera outbreak in 14 of the country 's 18 provinces is under control since the government is reinforcing measures to prevent a new outbreak of the epidemic in the country, local media reported on Friday.

Van-Dunem made the disclosure at a meeting here on Thursday, which was attended by Prime Minister Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos and the governors of the country's 18 provinces.

He said these measures included the sanitation of the environment, continued improvement of the water quality, waste collection and treatment.

He said the epidemic is currently dropping thanks mainly to the dry season that has started in the country.

The disease is transmitted through contaminated water and is linked to poor hygiene, overcrowding and bad sanitation.

Statistics released here Thursday by the Health Ministry indicate that cholera has killed 1,646 people, sickened 42,000 others in the southern African country since February 13 this year.

Source: Xinhua