HANOI, Nov. 13 (Xinhua) -- Acute diarrhea has spread to 14 cities and provinces in Vietnam, affecting 1,661 people since Oct.23, local newspaper Labor reported Tuesday.

    Of the total infection cases, 204 people, including three foreigners from the Philippines, Belgium and Japan, contracted cholera, the paper quoted a report of the Vietnamese Health Ministry as saying.

    Initial tests showed that the 31-year-old Filipino woman, who is working for a company in Hanoi capital, a Japanese man, and a Belgian female tourist, have been infected with cholera virus.

    The Japanese man's health has recovered, the paper said, noting that samples from his Vietnamese interpreter were tested positive to cholera virus, although the interpreter has shown no signs of having contracted acute diarrhea.

    Of the 1,661 patients, 520 have been discharged from hospitals, said the paper.

    The ministry has asked the World Health Organization to help it find out how long the cholera virus can survive in the Vietnamese environment.

    Next week, eight delegations led by Vietnamese cabinet members will inspect anti-acute diarrhea activities, especially food safety, in cities and provinces, especially flood-hit localities.