As of August 31, 221 cases of cholera had been recorded, the last on July 12.
No new cases of cholera for almost two months, but the mpox virus in the crosshairs: Mayotte is able to respond to the epidemics affecting Africa and the Indian Ocean region, health authorities assure AFP. In the spring, a cholera epidemic had affected the poorest department in France and had spread to several shanty towns, raising fears of a much faster spread. As of August 31, 221 cases had finally been recorded, the last one on July 12.
While two deaths were initially reported, the revised report from the Regional Health Agency (ARS) shows five people whose deaths are “attributable to cholera” (i.e. a combination of clinical signs, microbiological proof, epidemiological link and absence of comorbidity) and two “partially attributable” to the disease.
“The situation is satisfactory. It shows the effectiveness of our response.”Bastien Morvan, the ARS chief of staff, told AFP, while assuring that the health authorities remain «vigilantes». “The rainy season is coming and with it, the risk of waterborne diseases increases tenfold. We could see the epidemic start up again at that time.”says Tanguy Cholin, head of the ARS security and health emergencies department.
One of the French territories most at risk
Faced with cholera, the ARS of Mayotte had set up a major preventive vaccination campaign in the first weeks in the most vulnerable areas, particularly informal neighborhoods where access to drinking water is limited.
While cholera has stopped, the ongoing mpox epidemic in central Africa, particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo, is being closely monitored because Mayotte is one of the French territories most at risk, the department attracting many migrants from the African Great Lakes. “In 2022, we recorded two cases of MPOX in Mayotte”recalled Bastien Morvan. “So we developed a response plan based on what we had established at the time.”.
The aim is to quickly identify suspected cases with a dedicated support circuit for travellers arriving from risk areas and the possibility of carrying out tests within the “the medical unit of the administrative detention center” of the archipelago.
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