The French Indian Ocean island of Mayotte is grappling with a severe cholera outbreak, with nearly 200 cases reported as of Friday.
The epidemic poses a significant public health challenge for the region.
According to France’s public health agency, SPF, 193 cholera cases have been reported in Mayotte as of June 18, 2024.
Out of these, 172 cases were locally acquired, while 21 were traced to infections abroad, primarily from the neighboring Comoros archipelago and countries on the African continent.
Cholera, an infectious disease known for causing severe diarrhea, vomiting, and muscle cramps, spreads rapidly in unsanitary conditions.
Mayotte, an island with a population of around 320,000, reported its first locally acquired cases in late April. Since the outbreak began, two fatalities have been recorded, including a three-year-old girl.
SPF issued a stark warning about the high risk of transmission in disadvantaged neighborhoods, highlighting that inadequate access to drinking water and sanitation facilities exacerbates the spread of the disease.
French authorities are facing criticism for their perceived failure to ensure adequate access to clean drinking water, which is crucial in preventing the spread of cholera.
The ongoing epidemic in Mayotte has underscored the urgency of addressing these basic needs in the overseas territory.
President Emmanuel Macron, speaking at a summit on vaccine production in Africa on Thursday, stressed the importance of eradicating cholera.
“Cholera should be consigned to the past,” Macron declared, emphasizing the need for robust vaccine production and distribution to tackle the disease effectively.
The Comoros archipelago, which has been battling a cholera epidemic for the past four months, has reported 134 deaths and over 8,700 cases, according to local authorities.
