Flood-related leptospirosis outbreaks in Brazil: perspectives for a joint monitoring by health services and disaster monitoring centers

Abstract

Although leptospirosis—a bacterial disease transmitted through contact with rodents’ urine—may be a consequence of many environmental factors, its occurrence may increase in association with floods. We analyzed some Brazilian municipalities where the number of leptospirosis cases became higher after flood episodes and a city which presented a raising number of cases through last years, highlighting the necessity of synergistic monitoring activities from health services and natural disasters monitoring centers. In conclusion, we found that the increase in the number of cases is often preceded by floods. For monitoring issues, analyzing flood data is more effective than analyzing rain data. For warning purposes, several datasets usually applied to disasters’ prevention can be also explored, addressing public health. Through the analysis of rain, temperature, rivers’ levels, vulnerability to floods and flood potential—common data in disaster monitoring centers—it is possible to expand the scope of alerts and to provide support for public health management.