Baghdad - Iraq's health ministry announced Tuesday that 20 new cases of cholera have been reported in the province of Babel, raising fears an epidemic might break out.

The central Iraqi province, 100 kilometres south of Baghdad, was placed on alert Monday after four people died of the disease.

"Laboratory reports from the Babel health department indicate there are 200 suspected cases of cholera," which is characterized by vomiting and diarrhoea, the provincial council said.

The council has ordered the water, electricity and health departments to go on alert in an effort to stop the spread of the disease, health ministry spokesman Ehsaan Jaafar said.

Elsewhere in Iraq, 27 cholera cases have been discovered since last month.

"Babel should be declared an infected area and the Iraqi leadership should call on the UN and humanitarian organizations to help deal with a potential human crisis," said Hassan Mohreg, a member of the Babel council. (dpa)