Overview
- An official report compiled from Nov. 2024 to Oct. 2025 shows roughly 70% of measured Brazilian beaches classified as unsuitable for bathing, the highest share in a decade.
- The Santa Catarina environmental agency found 67.2% of 259 monitored points failed sanitary standards between Dec. 28 and Jan. 2, covering popular sites such as Camboriú, Bombas, Bombinhas and Florianópolis.
- Health centers in Florianópolis report a surge of tourists with gastroenteritis symptoms including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and fever linked to exposure to contaminated water.
- Environmental and health authorities caution that an 'inadequate' rating signals elevated risk rather than certain illness, with potential conditions ranging from gastroenteritis and hepatitis A to dermatitis, conjunctivitis, otitis and respiratory issues.
- Officials advise avoiding swimming after heavy rainfall or near outfalls, not swallowing seawater, washing produce with bottled water and checking state monitoring sites for up‑to‑date beach statuses, with additional alerts for areas like Botafogo, Arpoador, Búzios, Guarujá and Ilhabela.