Mayotte: a 3-year-old child dies of cholera after the first cases appeared in March

A first fatal case of cholera was reported. announced on the island of Mayotte by the Regional Health Agency (ARS) and the prefecture. This is a 3-year-old child who lived in the slums of Koungou.

An older child 3-year-old died of cholera Mayotte, announced the Regional Health Agency (ARS) and the prefecture in a press release, Wednesday May 8. "A first child has died; this day,” we can read. This is the first death recorded in the country. on the island since the detection of the first cases on March 19. "It's a collective shame, a health disaster", deploredé Estelle Youssouffa, Liot deputy of the island. In a post published on X (formerly Twitter), the elected official mentioned an "emergency" and asked to Prime Minister Gabriel Attal a series of measures, such as "mass vaccination" of the population, tablets to disinfect water, distribution of bottled water or hydroalcoholic gel. At the same time, the parliamentarian also demanded the "closure of the border at sea" in order to prevent "the entry of illegal sick people from the Comoros", reports franceinfo.

The child lived in a slum

According to the first elements reported by Estelle Youssouffa, the toddler who found death after contracting cholera, lived "in the slums of Koungou", there; whereù Many Comorians often live there. According to figures from INSEE, in 2017, 48% of the population living outside the city. Mayotte was of nationality foreigners, the majority of whom are foreigners. is from the Comoros. "The precarious housing of migrants disembarking at Mayotte, in search of subsistence from the neighboring Comoros, favors the spread of cholera which is a disease of underdevelopment and extreme poverty. ;quot;, on his sideé explained the epidemiological doctor Antoine Flahault & our colleagues from France 24.

A disease of bacterial origin, cholera can cause acute diarrhea and lead to death due to severe diarrhea. eacute;hydration in one à three days. In most cases, the disease is caused after ingesting food or water contaminated with the bacteria bacillus vibrio or cholera vibrio. If in the majority of cases, infected people do not feel any symptoms, when they do appear, the disease can prove fatal in 10 years. ;agrave; 20% of cases, notably through severe diarrhea and accelerated dehydration.

To protect against this, vaccines and effective treatments exist. Although health reinforcements were provided, sent to this overseas department located in France. in the heart of the Indian Ocean to fight against the spread of the virus after the discovery of the first cases, the child of cededé could not be supported at this time time. "This death of a child reminds us that cholera is a deadly disease that is taking root in a French department" ccedil;ais which is a medical desert", once again regretted MP Estelle Youssouffa.