How many dead bodies have been recovered according to the report?

25,000 body bags have been delivered to rescue workers in New Orleans amid reports that they are about to start an operation to collect the bodies of the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Only 83 corpses have been recovered so far but there are fears that the number of those killed could be in the thousands and the authorities have been warning residents against the dangers of the polluted waters. The Director of the Centers for Disease Control in the US, Dr. Julie Gerberding, has been warning residents against staying in the city.
     "We believe that the health hazard from this water is still a very important threat to the people who have yet to evacuate. Basically the results indicate that the water is full of sewage. We know this is not safe. We know that there are many common intestinal illnesses that can be transmitted by ingesting the sewage and in some cases by being in the water with these organisms in it without protective clothing. So for the evacuees who haven’t left the city yet, you must do so."