Mayotte: first three cases of “local” cholera confirmed, regional health agency reports

Alert levels are rising in Mayotte. The first three cases of “local” cholera have been detected in the archipelago, where ten imported cases have been reported among migrants, especially from neighboring Comoros, since mid-March, the Regional Health Agency (ARS) said on Friday.

Thus, the three patients who became infected without leaving the territory are a woman, a man and an infant, between whom there is no biological connection. They are currently hospitalized, but their condition remains good, La 1ère reports.

The cases, the first from internal contamination in the Indian Ocean department, were “identified in the commune of Kungou” north of Mamoudou, ARS Director General Olivier Braic told a news conference, adding that it was “most likely.” was that these patients were infected by “a sick person (who) did not appear to Samu.”

Cholera is an acute form of diarrhea that can cause death within hours and is caused by bacteria usually transmitted through contaminated water or food. “We must closely monitor this situation, we are introducing measures to identify contacts, giving them antibiotic therapy and organizing vaccinations for residents of the area,” the head of the ARS assured.

In the morning, local Kwezi media reported another case: according to ARS, the mother of the infected child was also tested for cholera. At the moment, the situation is not at the epidemic stage, but still requires “increased vigilance,” health authorities insist.

Enhanced screening and vaccination

“Since the beginning of the epidemic, our intervention methods have remained the same: as soon as the results come back, the person is transferred to the cholera ward in the emergency department of the CHM,” said Olivier Braic at the Mayotte hospital center. always quoted by La 1er. In addition, “five trucks” are mobilized “7 days a week” to “identify contact cases, administer antibiotics and vaccinate them.”

Resources will be strengthened in particular in the commune of Kungu: from Saturday ARS will set up a verification center there. “We are carrying out a one-time operation and vaccinating this area so that the entire population is immunized and eliminates any risk of an epidemic,” added Olivier Braic. About 2,600 vaccine doses are expected next week, bringing the total number of doses available to 4,600, with 1,000 people already vaccinated, according to a local channel. “We vaccinate and treat, so we can assess that the virus will not spread further,” assured Prefect François-Xavier Biéville.

Reinforcement to “not end up with your back against the wall”

At the same time, 20 doctors and nurses will arrive on Saturday to lend a helping hand to the archipelago, which is preparing for an epidemic “so as not to end up at the wall,” ARS insists. France’s public health service also issued an official alert on Thursday evening to make it easier to send reinforcements to the site if the situation worsens, La 1er said. The number of places in the Cholera World Championship department will increase from eight to 14.

Before these three cases, ten cases had been confirmed in Mayotte since March 18, but all were imported, most of them in people arriving from neighboring Comoros, where an epidemic has been raging since the beginning of the year, with many migrants from the Democratic Republic passing through. Congo.

“Each of the cases was isolated, people who came into contact with these patients were treated with antibiotics and are therefore protected from any epidemic risk,” Marie Guévenu, minister delegate in charge of the overseas territories, said on Tuesday. Southern Radio. Highlighting the prevention campaigns carried out, “We must ensure that every Mahorai follows very simple health rules such as hand washing,” she stressed.

ARS also recommends caution and only drinking water to avoid the risk of contamination. She also urges anyone who has returned from the Comoros or mainland Africa for less than ten days, or whose loved one has returned from this type of trip, and who is suffering from diarrhea to immediately isolate themselves, call 15 and continue drinking. Fine. People suffering from acute watery diarrhea and severe dehydration are also affected.

In February, the agency presented a response plan in case of introduction of the disease to an overseas agency. Border health controls and local interventions have been strengthened, and a secure hospital care network has been established.