A case of cholera was identified in Réunion on March 20, 2024, and precautionary measures were put in place by the island’s ARS.
- A case of cholera was declared to ARS La Réunion on March 20, 2024.
- This is an imported case from India.
- The necessary precautionary measures have been implemented and contact tracing is underway, according to health authorities.
A case of cholera, imported from India, was detected in Reunion on March 20, 2024, according to a press release from the ARS of the overseas department.
Cholera in Reunion: a case imported from India
“A case of cholera was declared to the ARS La Réunion on March 20, 2024. This concerns a person who had recently stayed in India“, explains the organization. It specifies that the patient was taken care of by the island’s university hospital and his condition is not “do not cause concern”.
“As soon as the case was confirmed and in order to avoid any spread of the disease, precautionary measures were put in place at the hospital”, assure the health authorities in their press release. They add that “the spread of this disease in Reunion Island is very unlikely.”
The island of Mayotte is also facing this disease. A first case of cholera, coming from the Comoros archipelago where an epidemic is underway, was spotted on March 18.
Cholera: what is it?
Cholera is an acute digestive infection caused by bacteria belonging to serogroups O1 and O139 of the Vibrio cholerae species. The disease is mainly characterized by diarrhea and vomiting. “Most cases present few or no symptoms; however, some develop severe complications linked to intense dehydration due to diarrhea.“, indicates ARS La Réunion.
The bacteria is transmitted through contaminated water or food And dirty hands. This is why it is recommended in areas affected by an epidemic such as the Comoros to:
- wash your hands very regularly with soapy water or use a hydro-alcoholic gel;
- favor the consumption of bottled water.
“Severe forms of cholera particularly affect people living in precarious hygienic conditions, in a situation of malnutrition and without access to drinking water”adds the ARS.
According to the WHO, there are nearly 3 million cases of cholera and more than 95,000 deaths per year worldwide. “All regions of the world report cases of cholera, Africa is the continent most affected and concentrates more 50% cases. The overall case fatality rate was 1.8% in 2016, but exceeded the 6% among vulnerable groups residing in high-risk areas”specifies the Pasteur Institute on its website.
