By Xinhua

HARARE: The cholera pandemic continues to spread in Zimbabwe with 22 new confirmed cases reported Tuesday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 1,240, data from the Ministry of Health and Child Care showed.

As of Tuesday, the country had also recorded 7,398 suspected cases, 50 confirmed cholera deaths and 145 suspected cholera deaths, with 109 people hospitalized, according to the ministry.

Kuwadzana high-density suburb has become the epicentre of the cholera pandemic in Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe, according to Harare City Council spokesperson Stanley Gama, who attributed cholera infections to sewer blockages in Kuwadzana.

Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Jenfan Muswere said last week that the government had approved a budget of 12 million U.S. dollars for the national cholera outbreak response.