The World Health Organization (WHO) says it expects a cholera epidemic in southern Iraq because of problems with poor sanitation.

WHO disease specialist Denis Coulombier estimated that there were 10 times the number of cholera cases than the 17 registered in Basra since Tuesday.

Another WHO official said the organisation "feared hundreds of cases."

Although cholera is always present in Basra, particularly in the hot months, the number of cases reported in a 24-hour period is causing alarm, says the BBC's Jane Peel in Basra.

The WHO is meeting British troops who control the region, the Red Cross and local health officials to step up efforts to improve sanitation in the area in a bid to avert the epidemic.

Tests on the 17 cases are being carried out in Kuwait and the results will be known on Thursday, WHO spokeswoman Fadila Shaib said.

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