Cholera has killed at least 30 people in Mozambique since the start of the current outbreak in Maputo in late December last year, local media reported on Monday. 

According to Maputo health authorities, the worst might be over, since is reducing the number of cases admitted to the Cholera Treatment Center (CTC), at the Mavalane General Hospital in Maputo.

But experts warn that despite the tendency to a decline in the number of diagnosed cases, the situation may worsen any time, while the rainy season still lasts

The Maputo CTC has received 4,246 patients since the outbreak of the disease, and has reported 21 deaths. This center received 181 patients on Sunday, 33 less than on Friday.

Meanwhile, Beira City, the capital of the Mozambican central province of Sofala, recorded 54 new cases and one death from cholera since Friday. This brings to 951 the total number of diagnosed cases since December, of whom five have died.

Also in Sofala Province, the district of Maringue reported 29 new cases over the weekend, bringing the total there to 147 diagnosed cases.

The Mozambican central province of Zambezia has now recorded a total of 75 diagnosed cases.   

(Xinhua News Agency February 3, 2004)