Geneva - At least 4,011 people have died from cholera in Zimbabwe since an outbreak began last year, United Nations statistics showed Monday, with access to medical care still a major problem.

About 61 per cent of the dead were deemed community deaths, meaning the victims were unable to reach medical treatment.

A total of 89,018 cases have been reported, according to data from the World Health Organization, based in part on information from the Ministry of Health in Harare.

The case fatality rate appeared to be dropping but still remained higher than the WHO standards allowed for.

Aid workers have said the disease has passed the worst case scenario and have also complained of funding shortages for efforts to combat the outbreak.

Towards the end of January Zimbabwe passed the 3,000 mark, less than two months after President Robert Mugabe declared that there was no more cholera in the country. (dpa)