At least 12 deaths reported in cholera outbreak in Afghanistan's Jawzjan province

SHIBERGHAN, Afghanistan, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- At least 12 deaths have been reported out of over 18,000 infections in the outbreak of cholera since mid-June in Afghanistan's northern Jawzjan province, provincial health official said Sunday.

"A total of 18,000 people have been affected by cholera due to using polluted water and poor access to health services," Abdul Ghani Samim, acting director of the provincial public health department, told reporters.

Local authorities with the financial support from the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) have established five response teams in dealing with the public health emergency situation in the province, the official added.