The new report from Public Health France shows 85 cases of cholera in Mayotte, of which 68 are so-called indigenous cases.
- In Mayotte, the number of cholera cases continues to increase: it is currently 85, of which 68 are indigenous.
- The majority of infections were recorded in Koungou, a commune with problems with access to drinking water and sanitation.
- Faced with this situation, Public Health France is launching a call for reinforcements from volunteer health professionals for the health reserve mobilized on site.
According to the latest assessment of Public health Francewhich dates from May 15, 2024, 85 cases of cholera were reported on the island, less than two months after the discovery of the first case, on March 18.
Cholera: a majority of indigenous cases in Mayotte
The health authority details: “17 were imported from the Comoros or countries on the African continent“. But, what is more worrying is that 68 are so-called indigenous cases. Which means that those affected have contracted the pathology on the territory and that they have not traveled to a contaminated area in the fifteen days preceding the appearance of symptoms.
The cholera epidemic is therefore worrying in Mayotte. Most people affected by this acute diarrheal infection do not usually show symptoms, says the World Health Organization (WHO). For those who have them, they remain mild to moderate in the majority of cases. But a minority of patients suffer from acute watery diarrhea, with severe dehydration. Without treatment, this disease can be fatal.
Since the start of the epidemic in Mayotte, a three-year-old girl has died and seven people have been admitted to intensive care. To limit the risk of the epidemic spreading, the ideal is to vaccinate the population. As of May 13, in Mayotte, 4,456 contact cases had received an injection.
Cholera is transmitted by ingestion of contaminated water or food, depending on the Pasteur Institute. Currently, most of the cases recorded in Mayotte – very precisely 61 of them – have been detected in the commune of Koungou.
This municipality experiences difficulties in accessing drinking water, which means that many residents consume river water. There are also sanitation defects, notably the lack of wastewater disposal. A few days ago, a new outbreak of contamination was also reported in the commune of M’tzangamouji, which has six indigenous cases.
Cholera epidemic in Mayotte: Public Health France launches an appeal
In a communicated published this Friday, May 17, Public Health France calls for reinforcements volunteer health professionals, as part of the health reserve mobilized on site for cholera. Many missions – which generally last a month – are coming to an end soon.
More precisely, 54 volunteers are specifically deployed to Mayotte for the cholera epidemic. “They strengthen the teams of the Regional Health Agency (ARS), Public Health France Mayotte, the Mayotte Hospital Center, the Reference Medical Centers or intervene in the field for investigation or vaccination missions“, details Public Health France.
