On Friday, French authorities reported an outbreak of cholera on the Indian Ocean island of Mayotte, with nearly 200 cases recorded as the island grapples with the deadly disease, News About Nigeria reports.
According to France’s public health agency, SPF, 193 cholera cases have been documented in Mayotte as of June 18, 2024.
Among these, 172 cases were locally acquired, while 21 were in individuals infected abroad in the neighbouring Comoros archipelago and countries on the African continent.
Cholera, known for causing severe diarrhoea, vomiting, and muscle cramps, spreads easily in unsanitary conditions.
The island, home to approximately 320,000 residents, reported its first locally acquired cholera cases in late April. Since the onset of the epidemic, two people have died, including a three-year-old girl.
SPF said disadvantaged neighbourhoods have a high risk of transmission as they do not have adequate access to drinking water and sanitation.
The French authorities have faced criticism for not securing reliable access to clean water to prevent the outbreak in their overseas territory.
In a recent summit on vaccine production in Africa, President Emmanuel Macron emphasised the need to eliminate cholera, calling for the disease to be “consigned to the past.”
Meanwhile, in Nigeria, News About Nigeria reported that the Lagos State Government announced on Friday that 24 people have died from cholera as of June 19, 2024.
The state has recorded 417 suspected cases, with 35 confirmed across its 20 Local Government Council Areas.
Kemi Ogunyemi, Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Health, reported that fatalities rose from 15 to 21 within a day, accompanied by an increase in suspected cases to 350.
The highest numbers were reported in Lagos Island, Kosofe, and Eti Osa.
Ogunyemi attributed the spike to large gatherings during the Ileya festivities but noted a subsequent decline in suspected cases due to state interventions and surveillance efforts.
