More than 500 deaths in 2023 due to contaminated water

Deaths attributed to contaminated water sources and lack of hygiene have been increasing in Portugal, with 518 deaths recorded in 2023 , according to INE data published by Jornal de Notícias (JN) this Wednesday.

The newspaper cites in its edition this Wednesday data from the National Institute of Statistics (INE) that point to a new maximum of 518 deaths in 2023, leveraging the mortality rate to 4.9 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants , the highest value since at least 2010, when it was 1.1.

In 2022, 472 deaths were recorded (4.5%), in 2021 there were 398 (3.8%) and in 2020 there were 413 (4%).

According to the data, 57% of registered deaths concern people over 85 years old , followed by the 75-84 age group, with 28% of deaths.

According to INE data, six out of every 10 deaths were women .

“Among those over 85 years old, the mortality rate reached 78.6/100,000, being the second highest in those aged 75-84 (16.6%), followed by babies under one year old (4.9) , according to the INE.

The deaths, according to the list consulted by JN, are attributed to unsanitary water sources or deficient or non-existent sanitation and hygiene conditions , with deaths from cholera, typhoid fever, shigellosis or other bacterial intestinal infections and parasitic diseases included in this coding.

The president of the National Association of Public Health Doctors, Bernardo Gomes, told the newspaper that it was “ important to understand whether this phenomenon has a territorial tradition , particularly in terms of cultural patterns of uncontrolled water use”.

In turn, hydrobiologist Adriano Bordalo defended joint work between the Ministries of Health and Environment that “can lead to the design of corrective actions” .

“If the studies were not carried out, we would not be able to improve the health of our population,” he said.