France faces cholera in its overseas territories
Mayotte, France's poorest overseas department, is facing a challenging couple of years. Amid water shortages, migrant-related repression, and violence, this tiny island off Africa's east coast now confronts a cholera outbreak. More than 70 people have been affected by this virulent intestinal infection, which claimed the life of a three-year-old girl. The epidemic, already present in the Comorian archipelago, spread to the French island due to insufficient sanitation, a lack of clean drinking water, and migration from Comoros.
In 1974, Mayotte voted to remain part of France while the other three islands in the Comoros sought independence. Today, it is the EU’s poorest region and a major entry point to Europe. Concerns have risen about the potential spread of the cholera epidemic to Europe through Mayotte. However, the French health ministry maintains that the epidemic is contained, with minimal risk of spreading to mainland France, emphasising the effectiveness of timely interventions and proper sanitation measures.
While cholera seems like a relic of the past, we're currently facing the seventh pandemic in history, with cases in South Africa, Asia and South America. In Europe, though the last major outbreaks occurred in the 19th century, cholera was a reality until the end of the 20th century. After 1965, countries like Russia, Spain, and Romania were affected.