Rain contributes to the spread of various diseases

Rain is a factor in the transmission of infectious diseases because it carries microbes that contaminate the environment, water, and food, says Dr. Clemente Terrero, an infectious disease specialist at the Robert Reid Cabral Hospital.

Humidity can also lead to the proliferation of fungi that cause skin diseases, such as athlete’s foot, the professional assures.

Atmospheric changes caused by rain favor the proliferation of new respiratory pathogen strains and increase disease, Terrero says.
Leptospirosis

Stagnant water can be contaminated with leptospira bacteria, which are transmitted through rat urine, and when human skin comes into contact with the agent.

Terrero specified that this is a disease that can cause leptospirosis, described as a serious, lethal infection with a high mortality rate.

Mosquitoes

Rainfall can create mosquito breeding grounds, particularly in water-filled containers, where Aedes aegypti mosquitoes breed. They transmit several diseases, including chikungunya, Zika, and dengue fever. The latter is considered endemic in the country and causes a high number of illnesses each year, always accompanied by a significant number of deaths.

Another disease that increases with the rains is malaria, which is transmitted by the bite of the Anopheles mosquito. The presence of this vector also increases during rainy periods.
In recent hours, the country has issued alerts for more than 20 provinces, categorizing them as green, red, or yellow due to the rains.