Two men in Rio Grande do Sul have died from leptospirosis following severe flooding.
The flooding has displaced over 600,000 people and significantly damaged health infrastructure.
Experts warn of increased disease outbreaks due to contaminated water and disrupted health services.
Key quote:
“There are those who die during the flood and there is the aftermath of the flood.”
— Paulo Saldiva, University of Sao Paulo
Why this matters:
The environmental impact of the floods has been devastating, and the aftermath brings additional public health concerns. The spread of leptospirosis underscores the broader implications of extreme weather events exacerbated by climate change. As global temperatures rise, the frequency and intensity of such disasters are expected to increase, bringing with them a host of secondary health crises.
On a day like Wednesday, when the New Orleans area was pounded with as much as seven inches of rain in less than three hours, it may seem like the only way past floodwater is through it.
"Population growth and increased interface between urban, rural and wildlife habitats, altered farm practices, climate and environment change are all contributing to the evolving epidemiology of leptospirosis."
