Cholera fears in Haitian capital

Five cases of Cholera have been detected Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, prompting fears of an outbreak of the disease in the overcrowded, earthquake-ravaged city.



U.N. officials say the five cases, the first confirmed in the capital since the epidemic started, involved people who had become infected in the main outbreak zone of Artibonite, north of the capital.



The people then travelled to the city where they fell ill.



The death toll from the cholera epidemic now stands at more than 200 and there are further reports of more than 2,600 cholera cases.



Cholera, which is transmitted through contaminated water and food, causes vomiting and diarrhoea and can kill in hours if left untreated.



However, it can be treated with oral rehydration salts or just a simple mix of water, sugar and salt.