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Cholera is 'S African disaster' Cholera is 'S African disaster'
(10 minutes later)
South African officials have declared a province on the border with Zimbabwe a disaster area amid a cholera epidemic. 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," a spokesman for the Limpopo provincial government, told Reuters news agency. "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.
At least eight people have died from the disease and more than 660 people have been treated in Limpopo Province.At least eight people have died from the disease and more than 660 people have been treated in Limpopo Province.
Many have crossed from Zimbabwe where nearly 800 have died from cholera and health services are close to collapse. "The provincial government took a decision that the whole of the Vhembe district should be declared a disaster area," Mr Nchabeleng said.
Estimates of the extent of Zimbabwe's cholera epidemic have climbed steeply this week, with the World Health Organization reporting 775 deaths and 16,141 cases on Wednesday.