Cholera breaking in China's southernmost Hainan Province is now contained to just one city, local health authorities said on Friday.

A total of 30 cases of cholera had been confirmed as of 11:00 AM, October 31 in Danzhou City, said Bai Zhiqin, head of the Hainan provincial health bureau; 25 were cured and 5 are in hospital.

The bureau also reports 300 suspected cholera cases in the city. No cases are reported outside the city, and no deaths have been reported.

Initial investigation by Bai's bureau shows the acute intestinal epidemic started from a dining party by the villagers of Huangyu Village, Danzhou City in the middle of October. The first cholera case was found there on October 20.

"The confirmed cases are mainly among the villagers from the dining party," said Bai. "Sporadic cases are few."

Experts said the flood in early October and the torrid weather following it make epidemics such as cholera, typhoid fever and diarrhea easy to break out.

Cholera has a short incubation period. At its most acute, it can cause diarrhoea that lead to death by severe dehydration and kidney failure.

(Xinhua News Agency November 2, 2008)