A total of 22 cases of cholera have been confirmed in Danzhou and Lingao, two counties in southernmost China's Hainan Province, since the first case was reported on October 20, local health authorities said on Thursday.

One child died of congenital heart disease triggered by suspected cholera, said Bai Zhiqin, director with the provincial health bureau. The 22 patients remain hospitalized.

The bureau yesterday also reported 300 further suspected cholera cases.

The local government had provided free treatment and set up quarantines, and the epidemic had been brought under control, Bai said. Most of the patients were only slightly affected by the waterborne disease, that causes symptoms including diarrhea and vomiting but no fever.

Local health authorities attributed the outbreak to diet and unclean water.

(Xinhua News Agency October 31, 2008)