Chinese resort island battles cholera outbreak

BEIJING (Reuters) - China's southern resort island of Hainan has confirmed 30 cholera cases and nearly 300 suspected cases in the last few days, the provincial government said on Friday.

No deaths had been reported, the government website said, but Xinhua news agency said on Thursday an eight-year-old girl died of congenital heart disease triggered by suspected cholera.

Continuous torrential rains on the island this month may be one reason for the epidemic, the website said.

Cholera is transmitted by contaminated water or food. At its most acute, it causes diarrhea that can lead to death by severe dehydration and kidney failure.

(Reporting by Beijing newsroom; Editing by Nick Macfie)