Zimbabwe cholera deaths near 500

An updated report from the UN says that more than 11 700 cases of cholera have been reported over the same period and the outbreak has affected most of the country. Spread has been aided by the collapse of the country's health system and the lack of clean water supplies.

Today's report comes in the wake of the news that Harare has no water because the authorities can no longer provide water purification services.

The World Health Organization has warned that the outbreak "can spread quickly into areas without access to safe water and sanitation".

"Case fatality rates may rapidly escalate in populations without rapid access to simple treatments," it said.

Cholera is endemic in Zimbabwe, and there have been outbreaks annually since 1998, according to the WHO.

But this is the most deadly outbreak for 15 years, health officials say.