Respiratory ailments rise in Brazil as Amazon fires rage
Respiratory ailments rise in Brazil as Amazon fires rage
BY LUIS ANDRES HENAO ASSOCIATED PRESS
AUGUST 27, 2019 09:58 PM, UPDATED 1 HOUR 12 MINUTES AGO
Land smolders during a forest fire in Altamira in Brazil's Amazon, Monday, Aug. 26, 2019. The fire is very close to Kayapo indigenous land located on the Bau indigenous reserve. LEO CORREA AP PHOTO
PORTO VELHO, BRAZIL
Lingering smoke in the Amazon caused concern Tuesday among Brazilians who say that respiratory problems — particularly among children and the elderly — have increased as fires in the region rage.
"The kids are affected the most. They're coughing a lot," said Elane Diaz, a nurse in the Rondonia state capital of Porto Velho, as she waited for a doctor's appointment at the city's 9 of August hospital with her 5-year-old-son Eduardo. "They have problems breathing. I'm concerned because it affects their health."
The number of people treated for respiratory issues increased sharply in recent days at the local Cosme e Damia Children's hospital.
"This period has been very tough. The dry weather and the smoke causes many problems on children, such as pneumonia, coughing and secretion," Daniel Pires, a pediatrician and the hospital's adjunct-director told the Folha de S. Paulo newspaper. "From Aug. 1 to Aug. 10, the median (number) of cases was about 120 to 130 children with respiratory problems. From Aug. 11 to (Aug. 20) it went up to 280 cases."
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