São Paulo — A viral outbreak at the Paulista coastal city of Guarujá prompted local authorities to collect 76.7 tons of trash from the beaches following New Year celebrations. This cleanup operation took place between 2:30 AM and 8 AM on January 1, 2025, as reported by the municipal administration on January 3. The cleaning efforts were led by the Secretary of Urban Operations (Seurb) and targeted the six main beaches of the municipality, including Pitangueiras, Astúrias, Enseada, Guaiúba, Tombo, and Pernambuco, with around 700 workers participating.
Local residents and tourists who celebrated New Year’s along the Guarujá coast have been vocal on social media about experiencing gastrointestinal issues, including diarrhea, vomiting, body aches, and nausea. This has not just been confined to Guarujá; other nearby cities, especially within the Baixada Santista region, have also reported similar rises in viral illnesses, with locations such as Santos, Praia Grande, and Itanhaém among those affected.
On January 3, Guarujá's administration called for the Sabesp sanitation company to investigate potential illegal sewage discharges along the beaches. Sabesp reported having provided necessary clarifications to the Municipal Environment Secretary but noted the impact of heavy rains on the sanitation system, which was not originally built to handle excess stormwater. Interestingly, on January 2, the day the sewage overflow occurred, there hadn't been any rain.
Local officials emphasized this time of year typically sees increases in gastrointestinal cases owing to various factors, including high temperatures, crowded beaches, and inadequate food handling practices. The Sabesp company confirmed to Metrópoles on January 4, about the sewage overflow occurring at Enseada beach, which coincided with the rise of viral illnesses reported by both locals and visitors since the New Year’s weekend.
According to the latest beach quality report from Cetesb, the Enseada beach was already marked as unsuitable for swimming as of December 29. The report outlined the status for Guarujá beaches, noting which were fit for bathing: Astúrias, Enseada (Avenida Atlântica), Enseada (Estrada de Pernambuco), Enseada (Rua Chile), Guaiúba, Iporanga, Pernambuco, Pitangueiras (Avenida Puglisi), Pitangueiras (Rua São Valadão), and Tombo.
Sabesp clarified the complexity surrounding beach water quality, attributing it to factors like unregulated urban growth and occupation of improper areas. The company stated its commitment to improving sanitation coverage across the municipalities it operates within by 2029 with projects like Onda Limpa, which has enhanced sewage collection capabilities along these coastal cities.
Cetesb reported monitoring 175 points on beaches across the São Paulo coast, confirming improvements over the previous year. They highlighted there were no spikes of unsuitable beach classifications found during typical peak periods, including January. Their annual classification statistics indicated an increase from 25% of monitored beaches remaining suitable for swimming throughout the year to 36% for 2024, surpassing 2021's records.
The persistence of viral outbreaks following public celebrations raises pertinent health concerns, emphasizing the need for thorough investigations by health authorities and sustained monitoring of coastal waters. The local government continues to recommend beachgoers to stay informed about water quality reports and advised to exercise caution concerning food handling and hygiene.