Approximately 140 people have died in central Haiti in an outbreak of diarrhea, which is believed to be cholera as stated by Haitian health officials, reports the government and U.N. officials.

Haitian health officials have stated that the World Health Organization claims 138 deaths and 1,526 cases so far have been registered with respect outbreaks which have been focused on the Lower Artibonite region, north of the capital Port-au-Prince, the U.N.'s humanitarian spokesperson in Haiti, Imogen Wall, told Reuters.

There has been outbreak of diarrhea in rural central Haiti which led to the death of nearly 135 people and sickened hundreds that caused an overwhelming response at the hospital on Thursday.

Health workers believed to be an outbreak of cholera, but are waiting for the tests.

Most of the patients were lying on blankets in a parking lot out of the hospital as it started to pour. Patients were tested for cholera, typhoid and other illnesses in the deadliest outbreak of disease since a January earthquake that killed as many as 300,000 people.

Catherine Huck, deputy country director for the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, said that Haiti’s Health Ministry seems to be reported 135 deaths and more than 1,000 people infected.
The president of the Haitian Medical Association, Dr. Surena Claude, explained that the reason for the same is cholera, which has not yet been confirmed though.