Photo: Lillian Banda/Xinhua

UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- United Nations aid workers said Tuesday they have released 2.5 million U.S. dollars for Zambia to fight the cholera epidemic that has claimed 574 victims and infects 400 to 500 people a day. Cholera transmission is exacerbated by water supply and sanitation problems, including flooding, shallow wells and difficulty accessing clean water.

Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths on Monday allocated money from the Central Emergency Relief Fund (CERF) to support the country's response to the cholera epidemic, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said.

The authority said the National Institute of Public Health in Zambia has reported more than 15 000 cases of cholera and 574 deaths since Sunday.

"Cholera transmission is exacerbated by water supply and sanitation issues, including flooding, shallow wells and difficulty accessing clean water," OCHA said. "The new CERF allocation will support the emergency response, including support for health, nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene."

Cholera has broken out in several countries in East and Southeast Africa following this year's prolonged and severe seasonal flooding.

Xinhua/gnews.cz-JaV_07