Tele-epidemiology of diarrheal diseases in Rio Grande do Norte (Brazil) in the context of global changes

In 2021, diarrheal diseases were responsible for 1.17 million deaths, of which 340 324 concerned children under 5-years. In Brazil, between 2000 and 2019, in the state of Rio Grande do Norte the prevalence for children under 5-years increased. This last trend was observed in a context of public actions for the improvement in sanitation and stable access to drinking water, questioning the role played by the environment and climate. Recent diarrhea outbreaks in Northeast Brazil have been associated with persistent droughts, because water supply had to rely on inadequate alternative sources. Indeed, following climate change projections in the region, critical decrease of both water quantity and quality is expected to potentially boost the presence, dissemination and transmission of pathogens, leading to an increase in the relative risk of diarrhea illness in the tropics and subtropics: 22% to 29% by 2070-2099. Furthermore, the extension of cultivated areas promotes surface...