The World Health Organization (WHO) said here on Thursday cholera has claimed 1,982 lives in Angola since it broke out in mid-February this year.

In its latest report, the WHO said that 122 new cases and two deaths were recorded in the last 24 hours and 48,034 people have been infected so far in 14 of Angola's 18 provinces.

According to WHO, 35 percent of cholera victims were children aged under five.

Although the UN agency said there was sign the epidemic was slowing in the provinces of Kwanza Norte, Bengo and Malange, the medical charity Medicines Sans Frontiers (MSF) said it had worsened in Namibe and Luanda provinces.

Cholera is a waterborne disease, which has taken hold in Angola where safe drinking water is a luxury and the majority of Luanda's citizens live in overcrowded slums.

Source: Xinhua