The number of cholera cases in China's southernmost Hainan Province has risen to 51 from 37 on Sunday, the provincial health department said.

Department director Bai Zhiqin told Xinhua on Monday that the cholera outbreak was still under control, as 29 among the 51 people have been cured and discharged from hospital. There were no new reports of cholera cases in Danzhou, where the outbreak started, over the past two days.

Doctors also confirmed the pathogen of the outbreak, Bai added.

The department has launched an inspection of the province's catering businesses and intensified supervision of restaurants in cholera-affected areas.

Experts from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention have arrived in Hainan to guide disease control.

An initial investigation by the health department showed the acute intestinal illness started at a dining party in mid October in Huangyu Village, Danzhou City, where the first case was diagnosed on October 20.

Experts said floods in early October and the ensuing warm weather were ideal conditions for illnesses such as cholera, typhoid fever and diarrhea.

(Xinhua News Agency November 4, 2008)