Hurricane Maria: Puerto Rico facing health crisis

PUERTO RICO, Fla. — Puerto Rico could be facing a looming health crisis as people on the island try to recover from Hurricane Maria.

Health officials have said at least 76 suspected and confirmed cases of a bacterial disease have been reported. Those numbers don't include the many others who are sick with other illnesses.

Gustavo Martinez Rios, 11, has seen more in the last four weeks than some people do in their lifetime.

“I've seen a lot of people cry, people losing their houses,” Martinez Rios said.

The boy is battling serious stomach problems at the children's hospital in Bayamon.

The hospital is still running on a generator and packed with kids more than one month after the storm.

“X-Rays, MRI’s, the cat scans, all of that needs electric power,” said Evelyn Lopez, director at the hospital.

The challenges facing hospitals across the island are making it harder to fight what could be a looming health crisis.

Everywhere Channel 9's Nancy Alvarez visited, people were talking about leptospirosis, a bacteria found in the urine of rodents now crawling through the storm debris. It spreads through drinking water or unsanitary conditions.

The mayor of Canovanas told Eyewitness News that two deaths in her town could be linked to the illness.

Doctors all over the island are on high alert.

“I'm very concerned and we're launching a campaign to tell people what to do. If water is not clean, boil it,” said Dr. Mike Rivera at Bella Vista Hospital.

People are also suffering from other serious gastrointestinal problems. Doctors say head lice, pink eye and asthma-related issues are also on the rise.

Cox Media Group