The prefecture and the regional health agency have issued a statement announcing the death of a 3-year-old child from cholera in Mayotte, the first since cases appeared on 19 March. The child lived in the Koungou district, where several cases had recently been identified. The local authorities have mobilised teams to treat the child’s family and friends.

Faced with this situation, MP Estelle Youssouffa expressed an ‘emergency’ on the X social network, calling for mass vaccination, the distribution of water disinfectant tablets and hydro-alcoholic gel, and the distribution of bottled water. It has also called for the maritime border to be closed to prevent the entry of illegal immigrants from the Comoros.

Health Minister Frédéric Valletoux will visit Mayotte on Thursday and Friday to assess the situation. According to the latest ARS report dated 6 May, there have been 58 cases of cholera. The first cases had been identified among migrants, including some from neighbouring Comoros. A protocol introduced in February aims to prevent the spread of the disease by disinfecting the patient’s home, identifying and treating contact cases, and introducing progressive vaccination around the home of a cholera patient.