The World Health Organization said here on Friday, a cholera outbreak in Angola that broke out mid- February has claimed than 1,646 lives from more than 43,316 cumulative cases until Thursday.

In its latest update on the epidemic that has infected in 14 of Angola's 18 provinces, the WHO said that 238 new cases of the disease and three deaths were recorded in the last 24 hours.

Cholera, an acute intestinal infection spread by contaminated water or food, causes vomiting and acute diarrhea that can lead to dehydration and death within 24 hours if not treated swiftly with antibiotics and oral rehydration salts.

Angola's 27-year civil war, which ended in 2002, devastated the country's water and sanitation systems.

Source: Xinhua