The United Nations says at least 1,344 people have died from cholera in Haiti, and more than 23,000 hospitalized, as humanitarian workers and the country's government struggle to contain the outbreak.

UN spokesperson Elisabeth Byrs told reporters in Geneva on Tuesday that the death toll covers cases up to Nov. 19.

Experts fear the outbreak may become far worse. On Tuesday, UN humanitarian co-ordinator Nigel Fisher said up to 200,000 Haitians could contract the illness over the next three months.

"What the experts all agree is that this epidemic is, in their word, exploding," reported CTV's Lisa LaFlamme from the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince.

The disease is spread through contaminated food and water. It causes potentially fatal diarrhea and dehydration.

The outbreak comes just as Haitians are preparing for Sunday's presidential election. The winner will be in charge of billions of dollars in foreign aid money, and will oversee reconstruction efforts to build homes for millions of people displaced by last January's earthquake.

Human rights groups have led the call for the election to be postponed, given Haiti's current crisis, reported LaFlamme.

"But the lion's share of candidates want this election to move forward," she said. "It could be the most important election in decades for this country."