What the Floods in The South of Brazil Can Teach Us About the Future?

Source Article: Martins-Filho, et al. (2024). Catastrophic Floods in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil: The Need for Public Health Responses to Potential Infectious Disease Outbreaks. Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical, 57. 10.1590/0037-8682-0162-2024

In April 2024, the south of Brazil was devastated by floods that affected around 90% of the cities in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, leaving entire cities underwater, impacting over 2 million people, and causing more than 100 deaths. 

With the increase of climate change events over the years, it becomes necessary to reflect on what is in our future. What can we do to prevent further occurrences and change our planet’s history?

How is Climate Change Responsible for Flooding Entire Cities?

The floods in Rio Grande do Sul were associated with a persistent heatwave combined with a humidity corridor from the Amazon and strong wind currents, leading to unprecedented precipitation and dramatic increases in water levels across water systems. 

The water systems started to invade nearby cities, leaving entire neighborhoods underwater and forcing people to evade their houses. Many people could not leave their towns once the strength of the water flow caused the fall of bridges, cutting the connection with other cities and leaving people with limited resources.

While the water invaded houses, volunteers played a vital role in rescue efforts, exposing themselves to possible contamination from floodwater and adverse health conditions.

How Can Floodwater Cause the Spread of Diseases?

Floodwater is frequently contaminated by human and animal residues, causing several health risks for the population affected. The spread of typhoid fever, leptospirosis, and hepatitis B is known to be increased during these events, impacting public health. 

Past floods in Brazil caused serious disease outbreaks, increasing the incidence of leptospirosis in 2000 and 2016, and hepatitis A between 2012 and 2014. But infectious diseases are not the only health problems driven by climate change. Psychological stress, traumatic injuries, heart attacks, and respiratory conditions are also related to floodwater contamination. The conditions can also favor the proliferation of mosquitos and the occurrence of dengue and malaria in affected areas.

What Can We Do to Change the Future?

The lack of preventive strategies to protect vulnerable populations, especially people of lower socioeconomic status, and persistent underfunding for preventive measures were probably some of the reasons behind this massive chain of events. The implementation of a national disaster management program and incisive calls to action from policymakers would make a big difference, improving preventive measures against extreme weather events. 

To safeguard vulnerable populations, it is important to establish safe and hygienic shelters with free access to potable water. Health campaigns warning about the risks of contaminated water and vaccination initiatives could also help mitigate some health impacts.

In conclusion, excessive rainfall and extreme water conditions have been increasing fatalities worldwide, highlighting the need for mitigation plans and crisis management prevention by governments. To be able to change the future and prevent further catastrophic events, long-term recovery plans, and preventive future outbreak plans must be implemented and well distributed to the population, creating a sense of awareness. If we know what the problems are, it is always easier to think about solutions before it is too late.