GEORGETOWN, Guyana (AFP): At least four people have died from a water-borne disease in the aftermath of devastating floods in Guyana, raising the death toll to 33, authorities said Thursday. Health Minister Leslie Ramsammy said at least 20 people have died from leptospirosis, a rare and contagious bacterial infection, and 49 others remained hospitalized. At least 33 people have now died since torrential rains and flooding pounded the South American nation in mid-January. Meanwhile, the World Food Programme has flown in 14 tonnes of high-energy biscuits and canned tuna from its base in Ecuador, which "will complete the WFP food assistance package to the government of Guyana to assist the most vulnerable families," said WFP spokeswoman Maria Gabriela Flores. The aid organisation's decision came as polluted flood waters began draining off from several villages on the Atlantic coast. Chile airlifted on Thursday 400 boxes of non-perishable basic foodstuffs, mattresses, blankets and potable water to help many of the estimated 290,000 people affected by the flood. Reprinted from Caribbean Net News caribbeannetnews.com