Brazil floods: Waterborne disease outbreak kills four people

The state Department of Health warned residents that floodwaters may mix with sewage, leading to the transmission of diseases such as leptospirosis and hepatitis A.

Brazil is vaccinating its population against hepatitis A, but due to the scale of this is advising people to avoid consuming water or food that may be contaminated with water from floods.

Recovery and rescue efforts are continuing, and the federal government has allocated more than R$1.8 billion (£275 million, $348 million) to support Rio Grande do Sul.

As flood waters recede, the full extent of the damage to Brazil’s southernmost state has become more apparent. Those who were able to return to their homes are trying to salvage their properties that withstood the floods.

Rio Grande do Sul has a population of more than 10 million in 497 municipalities. The country borders Uruguay and Argentina.

Critics of the Rio Grande do Sul government accused the state governor of complicity in the damage caused by his stance on environmental policies.

In an article published on the Folha website, journalist Eleonora de Lucena writes that right-wing leadership in Rio Grande do Sul means that local politicians serve the interests of soy farmers and neglect environmental protection obligations.

Under the leadership of Governor Eduardo Leite, more than 400 changes were made to the state’s environmental legislation, including a law allowing the construction of dams in environmentally protected areas.

But during an interview with BBC Brazil last week, Light defended his policies, adding that dams in protected areas would allow food production.

The floods were the result of unprecedented heavy rains in the region. But the collapse of a hydroelectric dam after days of heavy rain at the beginning of May exacerbated the exodus.