The number of victims of the cholera outbreak in Haiti has risen to nearly 800, according to the latest report released by local authorities.

Some 81 people have died in the past 24 hours, including four in the capital Port-au-Prince, where an alarming number of potentially sick people are being admitted to hospitals and health centres.

The Haitian Health Minister said that approximately 11,000 people have been treated since the outbreak.

The Artibonite region, where the outbreak originated, is the hardest hit,vvo with almost 500 victims but the disease is spreading fast in the capital and towards the southern regions of Haiti.

The disease, primarily spread when infected faecal matter contaminates food or water, is treatable, mainly by re-hydrating the sick with safe water mixed essentially with salt, sugar and potassium or with intravenous fluids.

Haitian and foreign aid workers are continuing with campaigns to tell people to wash their hands, cook food thoroughly and take other precautions to prevent the spread of the disease.

A confirmed case of cholera had never been seen in this Caribbean country before last month. But health officials said that cholera will be part of the Haitian landscape for a long time, taking its place among the other challenges in one of the world's most difficult places to live.