In Haiti, the number of deaths from cholera has exceeded 500

The Haitian Health Ministry says a total of 501 cholera deaths were registered in Haiti by Saturday, fearing that recent flooding could worsen the epidemic.

The country's ministry reported on its website on Saturday that over 7,000 infected people were in hospitals.

Authorities fear that early November flooding caused by Hurricane Tomas could worsen the epidemic in the island's capital of Port-au-Prince -- which is home to approximately 1.3 million earthquake survivors living in tented camps, according to Press TV.

The sickness was noticed in half of the nation's 10 areas, with north regions being affected the most.

Approximately 1.3 million of the country's inhabitants have been residing in tent camps ever since the lethal earthquake crushed 250,000 citizens this January. The tragedy captured almost all the capital, Port-au-Prince, and produce major devastation in many areas of the poor country.

Cholera is basically a bacterial infection that spreads by the means of impure water, producing many diarrheas and vomiting that can direct to the dehydration and collapse within few hours, TopNews New Zealand reports.