From http://news.bbc.co.uk
Page last updated at 09:21 GMT, Thursday, 11 December 2008

Cholera is 'S African disaster'

Nearly 800 people have died from cholera in Zimbabwe

South African officials have declared part of their border with Zimbabwe a disaster area amid a cholera epidemic.

"Extraordinary measures are needed to deal with the situation," Limpopo provincial government spokesman Mogale Nchabeleng told Reuters news agency.

He said the declaration affected Vhembe district, which includes the border crossing point of Musina.

Hundreds of Zimbabweans have sought treatment in South Africa as their health services are close to collapse.

Nearly 800 people have died from cholera in Zimbabwe and 16,000 been treated.

In Limpopo, South Africa's northernmost province, at least eight people have died from the easily preventable disease and more than 660 people have been treated.

"The provincial government took a decision that the whole of the Vhembe district should be declared a disaster area," Mr Nchabeleng said.

The disaster status would free up funding and focus relief efforts, he added.

South African Health Minister Barbara Hogan visited the affected region on Wednesday to assess the situation.

She warned the epidemic will probably keep getting worse until a new government is formed in Zimbabwe.

President Robert Mugabe's ruling Zanu-PF party and Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) have been deadlocked in power-sharing negotiations for several months.