The 18 positive cases were detected out of 30 stool samples collected from patients seeking treatment at hospitals for acute watery diarrhea, a symptom that could result from cholera, WHO spokesperson Tarek Jasarevic told reporters.

All confirmed cases, including residents of Mogadishu district and those among internally displaced persons (IDPs), were said to be tested positive for the Vibrio cholera serotype “inaba”, which had been the predominant serotype in Somalia for the past three years.

“These results are an alarming reminder of the critical situation in Mogadishu and other parts of Southern, Central Somalia, (which are) still experiencing drought, population displacement and conflict,” Jasarevic said.

WHO has reported a dramatic increase of acute watery diarrhea cases in Somalia.

In June and July alone, 1,633 acute watery diarrhea cases had been registered in Banadir Hospital, Mogadishu, representing 38 percent of all reported cases in 2011, and a sharp rise comparing with the same period last year.

The United Nations public health arm said the situation was related to poor sanitation and limited access to safe water in numerous informal IDP settlements and a limited capacity of existing health partners to access those settlements and provide essential health services.

In addition, the high number of malnourished children due to the ongoing famine increased the susceptibility to waterborne diseases.

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