Cholera has broken out in Mazabukadistrict, southern Zambia, state media reported on Saturday.

According to Zambian News and Information Services (ZANIS), no death has been recorded since the disease broke out late last month due to measures put in place by the district health management team.

All the patients admitted at the cholera center are responding to the treatment, the ZANIS said.

As a result, five basic schools will not reopen for the third term until the outbreak is contained, the ZANIS added.

The source of the disease is due to contamination of water villagers fetch from shallow wells which they also use to wash their clothes and cooking, according to the ZANIS.

Health staff also issued a circular to discourage people from converging in groups following the cholera outbreak.

(Xinhua New Agency September 8, 2008)