The first four deaths from the waterborne bacterial disease, leptospirosis, have been reported in the southern Brazil state of Rio Grande do Sul, where floodwaters following days of unprecedented rainfall have started to recede, but health authorities are warning of additional fatalities. Rio Grande do Sul state’s health secretariat confirmed the four deaths of leptospirosis, and since the beginning of the deluge at least another 54 cases have been confirmed. Health experts had forecast a surge in infectious diseases such as leptospirosis and hepatitis.
The unprecedented over two weeks flooding has killed at least 165 people, with 82 still missing and over 600.000 forced from their homes, and has affected 2,3 million of the 10 million population of Brazil's most southern state that has borders with Argentina and Uruguay. “There are those who die during the flood and there is the aftermath of the flood,” said Paulo Saldiva, a professor at the University of Sao Paulo medical school who researches the impacts of climate change in health.
“The lack of potable water itself will mean that people will start using water from reservoirs that is not of good quality.” The disease's symptoms include fever, muscle ache and nausea followed by vomiting. The 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 .