KABUL, July 22 (Xinhua) -- The public health authorities of Afghanistan's northern province of Kunduz opened a special ward in a civil hospital to tackle suspected cases of cholera, the state-run Bakhtar news agency reported on Friday.
The 100-bed ward to check and treat cholera-affected patients was opened on Thursday, with head of the provincial health department Najibullah Sahel pledging to contain the outbreak of the disease in the province.
The outbreak of cholera is reportedly on the rise in Afghanistan. Southern Helmand province has reported 20 children died due to the disease with more infected, while 180 were admitted to hospital in Kandahar weeks ago due to the disease, and southern Zabul province also reported infected cases.
More than 6,000 people have reportedly been infected in the northern Jawzjan province and at least a dozen have succumbed to the disease. ■