The last of 38 people sickened after a cholera outbreak in an east China county has been discharged from hospital, local health authorities said Wednesday.

By Tuesday, no new cholera cases had been reported in Mengcheng, Anhui Province, for six straight days, meaning the outbreak has ended, the Anhui provincial health department said in a statement.

The last cholera patient was discharged from hospital Tuesday.

A cholera outbreak was detected in Mengcheng on Aug. 16, when the first three patients were admitted to hospital.

The three people ate at three different restaurants. Provincial health and disease control experts are still working to trace the source of the epidemic in the county of 1 million people.

Some local residents blame low hygiene awareness levels and street food stalls for the outbreak.

Local authorities had shut down street food stalls and restaurants for disinfection, as the disease is transmitted through water and food.