Space Travel News
EPIDEMICS
Cases of bacterial disease rise in Brazil's flooded south
Cases of bacterial disease rise in Brazil's flooded south
by AFP Staff Writers
Rio De Janeiro (AFP) May 28, 2024

Brazilian authorities on Tuesday reported an increase in cases of leptospirosis, a bacterial disease transmitted by rats, in the flooded south, parts of which have been under water for a month.

According to the latest figures from the Rio Grande do Sul State Health Secretariat, five people are confirmed to have died from the disease, while another nine deaths are being investigated.

Authorities have recorded 124 cases, and are verifying 922 others.

The state of Rio Grande do Sul has been battered by rain for weeks, and flooded rivers have transformed the streets of towns and cities into putrid, murky rivers.

The latest official figures, excluding leptospirosis deaths, show that 169 people have died and 53 are still missing.

Some 600,000 people have been displaced.

Leptospirosis is spread via the urine of infected animals, such as rodents and livestock, which contaminates soil or water. The bacteria can survive for weeks, and outbreaks in humans often take place after heavy rain or flooding.

Symptoms can appear from two days to four weeks after exposure, and are similar to that of the flu or dengue, such as headaches, fever and chills.

More serious cases can affect the liver or kidneys.

Brazilian authorities have set up a laboratory to test for suspected cases, and have implemented a vast social media prevention campaign.

"Have you been digging in the mud or walking through flood water and have symptoms of leptospirosis? Go to a health post," said Arita Bergmann, health secretary of Rio Grande do Sul, in a video on Instagram.

"Treatment cannot wait, do not stay at home waiting for it to pass, because it can develop into a serious illness," she added.

Related Links
Epidemics on Earth - Bird Flu, HIV/AIDS, Ebola

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
EPIDEMICS
China releases journalist jailed for Covid-19 coverage
Shanghai (AFP) May 22, 2024
Chinese citizen journalist Zhang Zhan has been released from prison after serving four years for her coverage of Beijing's Covid-19 response, according to a video released by media watchdog Reporters Without Borders. However, rights groups said Zhang was still under surveillance and that her freedom was extremely limited. Zhang, a former lawyer, travelled to the central city of Wuhan in February 2020 to report on the chaos at the pandemic's epicentre, questioning the authorities' handling of th ... read more

EPIDEMICS
EPIDEMICS
RNA study reveals potential for life in Mars' extreme environments

Redwire to lead Mars imaging study for NASA

Astrobotic to conduct NASA JPL studies for Mars missions

NASA and ESA Collaborate on ExoMars Rosalind Franklin Rover

EPIDEMICS
Lithuania becomes 40th nation to join NASA's Artemis Accords

World's first high-definition lunar geologic atlas revealed

NASA Tests Moonwalk Technology in Arizona Desert

Catalyzing a Lunar Economy: DARPA's Initial Findings from LunA-10 Study

EPIDEMICS
Peering into Pluto's hidden ocean

Probing for Rocks in an Ice Giant's Core

NASA's Juno captures detailed images of Europa's surface

New Horizons expand research with unique observations

EPIDEMICS
ASU researchers address methane mystery of exoplanet

NASA Tool Gets Ready to Image Faraway Planets

Webb reveals details of exoplanet's interior

Researchers Discover New Insights into Carbene Formation

EPIDEMICS
First crewed Boeing Starliner flight delayed again

SpaceX launches Starlink satellites in second mission of the day

NASA's Psyche Thrusters Propel Spacecraft Toward Asteroid

Boeing Starliner crewed test flight delayed indefinitely

EPIDEMICS
Zebrafish on China's space station reported to be in good condition

China sends experimental satellite into orbit with Long March 4C rocket

International Support for China's Chang'e-6 Lunar Mission

Shenzhou XVII astronauts safely back from Tiangong space station

EPIDEMICS
Hera tests CubeSat communication for asteroid mission

UCF Student's Primitive Asteroids Work Provides Context for Further Research, Future NASA Missions

Exploring asteroid Apophis using miniature satellites

'Baby asteroid' just a toddler in space years, researchers say

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.