Fiocruz: respiratory viruses remain high in most of the country

The new InfoGripe bulletin, released this Thursday 3 by the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation ( Fiocruz ), indicates that cases of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) remain high in most of the country. The analysis shows signs of a decline or interruption in the growth of cases associated with influenza A in states in the central-south, north and northeast regions and of those associated with the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in the three regions.

In the last four epidemiological weeks, the rate of positive cases was 33.4% for influenza A, 1.1% for influenza B, 47.7% for respiratory syncytial virus, 20.6% for rhinovirus and 1.8% for Sars-CoV-2 (Covid-19) . In cases of deaths, the presence of these same viruses was 74.1% for influenza A, 1.3% for influenza B, 14.1% for respiratory syncytial virus, 10.2% for rhinovirus and 3.1% for Sars-CoV-2 ( Covid-19 ) .

InfoGripe researcher Tatiana Portella says that some states are still showing a trend of increasing hospitalizations due to SARS: Mato Grosso, Paraná, Pará, Rondônia and Roraima. She emphasizes that the main causes of this increase continue to be influenza A and respiratory syncytial.

“That’s why we emphasize the importance of getting vaccinated against influenza. The SUS [Unified Health Service] provides the vaccine free of charge to priority groups, so it’s essential that everyone gets vaccinated. Even if you’ve already had the flu this year, it’s important to get vaccinated, since the vaccine protects against the three main types of influenza viruses that infect humans,” recommends the specialist.

Tatiana Portella adds that influenza A remains the main cause of hospitalizations and deaths due to SARS among the elderly. According to her, the incidence of SARS has a greater impact on young children, and is mainly associated with RSV, followed by rhinovirus and influenza A.

The researcher noted that there has been an interruption in the growth or decline in the number of cases of SARS caused by influenza A in the population of young people, adults and the elderly, in a significant part of the central-south and northern regions and in some states in the Northeast. In addition, cases of SARS associated with Influenza A continue to increase in some states in the Northeast, central-south and in Roraima.

States

A total of 6 of the 27 units of the Federation present an incidence of SRAG at alert, risk or high risk level, with signs of growth in the long-term trend, they are: Alagoas, Mato Grosso, Paraná, Pará, Rondônia and Roraima .

The incidence of SARS in the population of young people, adults and the elderly, associated with influenza A, remains high, but shows signs of decreasing in the Federal District, Espírito Santo, Goiás, Mato Grosso do Sul, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, São Paulo, Amazonas, Amapá, Pará, Rondônia, Tocantins, Bahia, Ceará, Maranhão and Paraíba. However, they continue to increase in Alagoas, Sergipe, Minas Gerais, Mato Grosso, Paraná and Roraima.