The United Nations says an out-of-control cholera epidemic has sickened more than 60,000 Zimbabweans since August.

According to previous expert predictions, the crisis would peak at 60,000 cases, but the UN humanitarian affairs agency says 60 401 cases and 3 161 deaths have now been recorded.

Experts believe many more have been sickened without being counted because so few Zimbabweans are able to get to hospitals.

The outbreak that began in August still remains out of control, a UN agency spokesperson, Elisabeth Byrs, told the Associated Press.

Zimbabwe faces a serious humanitarian situation; battling the poor health and sanitation infrastructure in a hyperinflationary environment while facing a hunger crisis.

Zimbabwe