Thais Leitão Reporter Agência Brasil
Rio de Janeiro - Officials at the Secretariat of Health, along with Civil Defense authorities, in the state of Rio de Janeiro have confirmed three cases of leptospirosis (Leptospira) in the mountainous region ("região serrano") where at least 800 people died and some 20,000 were displaced or left homeless after rains, flooding and mudslides on January 12. However, given the dimensions of the tragedy, the number is considered low. In fact, according to Alexandre Chieppe, head of Epidemological Control, only one of the cases is directly linked to the recent rains; the other two cases occurred before January 12.
Chieppe reported that since the January 12 rains health agents have known that an outbreak of leptospirosis was possible and have been oriented to act quickly as early diagnosis is very important in dealing with the disease.
Meanwhile, Edimilson Migowski, an expert in infectious diseases from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro ("UFRJ"), explained that contact with water contaminated by rat urine was the cause of leptospirosis. He said that in his opinion the reason for the low number of cases was because most of the flooding in the região serrano occurred after rainwater rolled down rural hillsides where rats are not common. Problems with leptospirosis, he pointed out, are perennial in large, mostly flat, urban areas where rats proliferate in sewage systems.
Allen Bennett - translator/editor The News in English - content modified