Yaounde – An outbreak of cholera has killed more than 200 people in northern Cameroon over the past two months, the Health Ministry said on Tuesday.

More than 1,500 people have been infected with the water-borne bacteria, said Rebecca Djao, a health official for the northern region of the country.

Cholera is an acute intestinal illness that causes severe stomach aches, diarrhea and vomiting. The disease is contracted by drinking water or eating foods contaminated with the cholera bacteria.

Depending on access to treatment, the mortality rate for those infected can range from one to 60 per cent.

Only one in 20 citizens have access to toilets and less than a third to safe drinking water in the West African nation of 22 million people, said Minister of Public Works, Andre Mama Fouda.

More than 4,000 people died during a similar Cholera outbreak in 2010