Coronavirus disease and basic sanitation: too early to be worried?

Renata Rocha da Silva, Márcio Bezerra‐Santos, Allan Dantas dos Santos, Débora dos Santos Tavares, Priscila Lima dos Santos

2020Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical20 citationsDOI Open Access PDF

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Considering that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been detected in feces, this study aimed to verify a possible relationship between basic sanitation indices and coronavirus disease (COVID-19) numbers/rates. METHODS: Data of COVID-19 cases registered in Brazil until May 28, 2020, and independent variables associated with basic sanitation were analyzed. RESULTS: A significant correlation between the number of cases and sewage treatment index/population density was observed. In addition, COVID-19 incidence and mortality rates were significantly associated with the total water service index and lethality rate was significantly associated with the sewage treatment index. CONCLUSIONS: Precarious basic sanitation infrastructure may potentially increase the SARS-CoV-2 transmission in Brazil.

Topics & Concepts

SanitationCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)Environmental healthCoronavirusFecesIncidence (geometry)PopulationSewageSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)Mortality rateTransmission (telecommunications)Index (typography)MedicineDiseaseVeterinary medicineGeographyBiologyInternal medicineInfectious disease (medical specialty)Environmental scienceEnvironmental engineeringMicrobiologyPathologyEngineeringWorld Wide WebComputer scienceElectrical engineeringOpticsPhysicsSARS-CoV-2 detection and testingFecal contamination and water qualityChild Nutrition and Water Access