An outbreak of cholera in Nigeria's northeast state of Gombe has killed five people, an official said Thursday.

Nuhu Bile, the state acting epidemiologist, told reporters in Gombe that 16 others were hospitalized at the Primary Health Center, Kembu, in Balanga area of the state.

The cholera outbreak occurred in October, he added, noting that 70 patients were treated and discharged, while the five people died before medical help could reach them.

The recent deaths had brought the number of cholera mortality to 13, Bile said.

He attributed the cause of the outbreak to five damaged hand-pumps in the community, which forced people to seek unsafe alternative source of water.

Cholera is a gastrointestinal disease usually spread by contaminated water and food, and can cause severe diarrhea that, in extreme cases, can lead to fatal dehydration and kidney failure within hours.