Brazil's flooded south sees first deaths from disease, as experts warn of coming surge in fatalities

(27 May 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Vale do Taquari, Brazil - 23 May 2024
1. Various of medicines and supplies being unloaded from helicopter, supplied by army to areas affected by the floods

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Canoas, Brazil - 26 May 2024
2. Brazil’s Air Force campaign hospital tent with medicines
3. Air Force Major Carla Silvestre talking to patients
4. SOUNDBITE (Portuguese) Carla Silvestre, Air Force Major:
"We've been having quite a few patients with symptoms of possible leptospirosis, a disease we must notify. So, as soon as we suspect that the patient may have leptospirosis due to the symptoms, we notify the Health Department and start treatment. And then we do the tests, of course, to confirm the diagnosis.”
5. Woman being attended
6. SOUNDBITE (Portuguese) Carla Silvestre, Air Force Major:
“Several municipalities have run out of water, with a reduced supply of one hour per day. So I believe that people didn't sanitize their food very well and consumed it. So we've had several cases of gastroenteritis. Hepatitis A is also very common. There are a number of infectious diseases that we can come into contact with through contaminated water.”
7. Silvestre talking to a patient
8. SOUNDBITE (Portuguese) Michel Santos, 34-years-old, suspected to have contracted leptospirosis:
“I came from Rio de Janeiro to help the people, bringing food and water. This morning I woke up with a lot of pain in my body and chills.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Canoas, Brazil - 23 May 2024
9. Helicopter flying over flooded rea
10. Supplies inside helicopter
11. Aerial of flooded areas, seen from helicopter

ASSOCIATED PRESS
São Leopoldo, Brazil - 20 May 2024
12. Various tracking shots of boat moving through flooded streets

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Canoas, Brazil - 19 May 2024
13. Various aerial shots of flooded neighborhoods ++MUTE++
STORYLINE:
Four deaths from waterborne bacterial diseases were reported in southern Brazil, where floodwaters were slowly receding, and health authorities warned additional fatalities were likely.

Since the beginning of May, over 1,000 cases of waterborne disease have been notified with 59 confirmed in the state.

The flooding over about two weeks killed at least 169 people, with 56 still missing, state authorities said Monday. More than 600,000 people were forced from their homes, including tens of thousands who remain in shelters, they said.

Health experts had previously forecast a surge in infectious diseases, including leptospirosis and hepatitis B within a couple weeks of the floods, as sewage mixed into the floodwaters.

“Several municipalities have run out of water, with a reduced supply of one hour per day. So I believe that people didn't sanitize their food very well and consumed it. So we've had several cases of gastroenteritis," said Brazilian Air Force Major, Carla Silvstre.

"Hepatitis A is also very common. There are a number of infectious diseases that we can come into contact with through contaminated water.”

The unprecedented disaster struck more than 80% of the state’s municipalities and damaged critical infrastructure.

Over 3,000 health establishments — hospitals, pharmacies, health centers, and private clinics — were affected, according to a report from the federal government's health research institute Fiocruz released May 21st.

AP Video by Wesley Santos

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