UN Says Cholera In 13 Iranian Provinces

15 August 2005 (RFE/RL) - The United Nations' health body says a cholera outbreak in Iran has spread quickly to 13 provinces.

Iran's representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) Mubashar Sheikh said today five people of the 403 who had contracted the disease have died. He added that the WHO will send out an expert on 16 August to appraise the situation.

In 1998, an epidemic in Iran affected 11,000 people and killed scores.

(Reuters)