United Nations Radio

The World Health Organization (WHO) is calling for drastic action to bring Zimbabwe's cholera outbreak under control.

WHO says it is very concerned that the number of cases has now reached more than 60,000.
And according to WHO's Assistant Director-General Dr. Eric Laroche this figure is by far too high.
He says the bad news is that the epidemic is going to continue within Zimbabwe and chances are it will spill over into neighboring countries:

cholera epidemic in Zimbabwe

"Unless we have drastic action, we are not going to get out of this epidemic before soon. And this is the reason why ..we have to make an extraordinary effort to respond to an extraordinary situation."

Zimbabwe's cholera outbreak, one of the world's largest ever recorded, is far from being brought under control.
Dr. Laroche says an enhanced response is needed to urgently reverse an epidemic that has so far infected more than 60,000 people and killed more than 3,100 since last August.
WHO says political differences must be put aside, economic barriers overcome, health services in the country strengthened and community awareness increased in order to save more lives.

This is Donn Bobb reporting for United Nations Radio.
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