Three first cases of “indigenous” cholera have been identified in the French department, where ten imported cases had been recorded since mid-March among migrants coming in particular from the neighboring Comoros, the Regional Health Agency (ARS) announced this Friday. .
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These cases, the first to result from internal contamination in this French department in the Indian Ocean, were “ identified in the commune of Koungou », north of Mamoudzou, said Olivier Brahic, director general of the ARS, during a press conference. “ Most likely » is that these patients were contaminated by “ a sick person (Who) did not show up to Samu “, he continued.
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The three people concerned are a woman, a man and an infant, without biological links, who were hospitalized and “ are OK “. “ There is no epidemic nature at present. But a particular situation which requires reinforced surveillance », assured Olivier Brahic. He indicated that the authorities were putting in place “ measures to identify contacts, put them on antibiotics » and organized “ vaccination of the inhabitants of this area “.
A protocol developed in February to prevent the spread of the disease provides for the disinfection of the patient’s home, the identification and treatment of contact cases and vaccination. in rings », by gradually expanding the area concerned around the home of the patient suffering from cholera. At the same time, a screening center will be opened on site and 20 doctors and nurses will arrive as reinforcements on Saturday in Mayotte.
Several cases from the Comoros already confirmed in Mayotte
Cholera is an acute form of diarrhea that can kill within hours and is contracted by bacteria usually transmitted through contaminated water or food. Before these three cases, ten had been confirmed in Mayotte, the first on March 18. It was a woman from the Comoros. On April 10, the ARS confirmed four new cases, irregular migrants arrested at sea. According to the police, these people are from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and “ probably passed through the Comoros “.
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On this archipelago 70 kilometers away, the epidemic is soaring. According to the Union of Comoros Ministry of Health, 68 new cases and three new deaths were recorded on April 24 alone. In total, “ 2,584 cases ” And “ 61 deaths » have been recorded there on this date since the outbreak of the epidemic at the beginning of the year, according to the ministry.
The epidemic also affects several African countries. According to the World Health Organization, 26,000 cases of cholera and 7,000 deaths have been reported in 10 countries on the continent. Tanzania and the DRC, where the majority of asylum seekers arriving in Mayotte come from, are among them.