A FALSE alert about cholera on Phuket has been defused by the Phuket Provincial Public Health Office, with officials saying there is no need for concern.

A four-star resort in Patong told guests in its regular newsletter:

''Reminder. We have been advised from the local tourism authority that there have been some limited outbreaks of Cholera in parts of Phuket. These outbreaks have been linked directly to street food vendors and therefore we are informing guests that street food may not be safe, for more detailed information you should contact the tourist police.''

When Phuketwan questioned the cholera ''outbreak'' with Public Health, we were told that there was no concern at present about the potentially fatal disease.

An official did say, though, that there had been non-fatal cases over the past three years.

The concern at Public Health at present is about serious cases of diarrhea, with an increase of numbers requiring hospital treatment above last year.

The new director of the office, Phongsawat Rattanasang, told Phuketwan that people should look out for the ''Clean Food, Good Taste'' signs at restaurants to avoid problems.

Restaurants prominently displaying this sign have passed Public Health standards, he said.

People suffering diarrhea should seek medical help if problems persist.

A spokesperson for the four-star resort in Patong said the warning about cholera had been in the guests' newsletter since January last year and had not been reviewed.

The item would be removed from the newsletter from today.

Vendors in the streets near the resort may have been scratching their heads through 2008, wondering why their customers suddenly disappeared.

The visitors should be back shortly.