Brazil flood risk of disease

People in southern Brazil are facing an increasing risk of infectious diseases after severe flooding caused by heavy rains since late April.

Officials in the state of Rio Grande do Sul said 169 people have been confirmed dead and about 580,000 are displaced. Hygiene conditions are deteriorating as many affected areas have been covered by floodwater for nearly one month.

State authorities said there has been a rapid increase in cases of leptospirosis, an infectious disease that causes high fever, headache and other symptoms. They said 141 infections and seven deaths had been confirmed as of Wednesday.