UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from Zimbabwe's worst ever cholera epidemic has climbed to over 3,000, with more than 57,000 infected by the water-borne disease, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported Wednesday.

cholera patient drinks treated water at Budiriro Polyclinic in Harare January 22, 2009. The death toll from Zimbabwe's worst ever cholera epidemic has climbed to over 3,000, with more than 57,000 infected by the water-borne disease, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported Wednesday.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    Some 3,028 people have died of cholera since the outbreak first hit the besieged southern African country about six months ago, with 57 deaths Tuesday alone and 102 the day before.

    The WHO also recorded 1,579 new cases of the disease Tuesday, brining the total number of people infected in Zimbabwe to 57,702.

    Meanwhile, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) announced that around 500,000 Zimbabweans are set to benefit from its so-called "Safety Net" activities that support school-based feeding, people affected by HIV/AIDS and mobile and vulnerable populations.

    The WFP's cholera response has begun in Manicaland and Masvingo provinces. In addition, it has established three new partnerships supporting people in seven districts.

    Cholera is a diarrhoeal disease caused by infection of the intestine. In five to 10 percent of cases, patients develop severe watery diarrhoea and vomit from six hours to five days after exposure to the bacterium. Death can occur within hours and those who are malnourished or already have intestinal parasites can be at especially high risk of death.