The cholera epidemic in Zimbabwe has still not been brought under control with cases and deaths increasing on daily basis, the United Nations said on Friday.

The death toll has risen to 2,225, with acumulative cases increasing to 42,675, according to a latest update from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

The agency said 689 cases and 24 deaths were added on Thursday, while 1,550 cases and 104 deaths were added the day before.

All 10 of Zimbabwe's provinces or 87.1 percent of its Districts are now affected by the epidemic, which broke out in mid August 2008.

"A main concern is the rise of community deaths (not in a health facility) in comparison to deaths within a health facility, " said Elisabeth Byrs, OCHA's spokesperson.

According to OCHA, the expected results of the massive awareness raising campaigns and distribution of prevention materials such as water purification tablets and curative materials such as Oral Rehydration Salt (ORS) sachets are yet to be felt.

The meltdown of economic and social infrastructures in Zimbabwe prevent people from having access to safe water and adhere to proper hygiene practices, resulting in infection and re-infection of large parts of the population, in particular in the rural areas.

There are also other major challenges, such as the lack of funding for government-run cholera treatment centers, the lack of logistical capacity, the lack of fuel and transport, and the coming of the flood and cyclone season.