Cholera which broke out in Nigeria's northeastern state of Borno three days ago has killed more than 80 people, a state government official said on Saturday.

Talba Alkali, permanent secretary in the state ministry of health, told reporters in the state capital Maiduguri that the disease has spread to the state's nine local government council areas and is likely to reach other neighboring areas if it is not put under control.

He said many of the victims were women and children, adding that the illness had forced several hundreds of people into hospital.

He estimated that at least 1,500 people were infected by the disease across the state. The state government has dispatched medical teams to the nine areas to check the further spread of the disease to the outlying areas.

Cholera, an infectious disease that afflicts people through drinking water contaminated with cholera bacteria, can kill people within 24 hours by inducing vomiting and diarrhea.

Source: Xinhua