Experts predict a surge in fatalities from leptospirosis as floodwaters recede in southern Brazil, where two men have already died from the disease following severe flooding. The floods, which have displaced over 600,000 people and significantly damaged health infrastructure, have brought additional public health concerns in the region.
According to Paulo Saldiva from the University of Sao Paulo, “There are those who die during the flood and there is the aftermath of the flood.” 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.
