KUALA LUMPUR, May 13 (Xinhua) -- Twenty-four people have been found suffering from cholera in Malaysia's eastern state of Sabah and the situation there seemed to be worsening, a local newspaper said here on Saturday.

    The cholera patients came from 18 villages near Kota Belud, a town 60 kilometers northeast of Kota Kinabalu, capital of the Sabah State, The Star said.

    These patients were hospitalized in a hospital at Kota Belud, which also accommodated another 76 people suspected of being infected by the epidemic, the English-language daily said.

    Local health and hospital authorities were sending more medical workers to reinforce the hospital in Kota Belud and taking preventive measures to contain the spread of the disease.

    Meanwhile, the authorities urged villagers around Kota Belud not to be panic as measures taken by the authorities were under way. Enditem