Alagoas among states with increase in Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome

Released this Thursday (25/4), the Fiocruz InfoGripe Bulletin highlights the recurring weekly increases in hospitalizations for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), especially due to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza A and rhinovirus. Covid-19, even though it shows signs of decline or stability at relatively low levels depending on the region of the country, is still the biggest cause of SARS mortality in the elderly. In children, however, Covid-19 is already outnumbered by RSV. In the national aggregate, there is a sign of growth in SARS in the long-term trend (last six weeks) and stabilization in the short-term trend (last three weeks). Referring to Epidemiological Week (SE) 16, from April 14th to 20th, the study is based on data entered into the Influenza Epidemiological Surveillance Information System (Sivep-Gripe) until April 22nd.

In this update, 23 states show growth in SARS in the long-term trend: Acre, Alagoas, Amazonas, Bahia, Ceará, Distrito Federal, Goiás, Maranhão, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Pará, Paraíba, Paraná, Pernambuco, Rio Grande do Norte, Rio Grande do Sul, Rio de Janeiro, Rondônia, Santa Catarina, Sergipe, São Paulo and Tocantins.

The increasing circulation of RSV is what has generated a significant increase in the incidence and mortality of SARS in children up to two years of age, surpassing deaths associated with Covid-19 in this age group in the last eight epidemiological weeks. RSV already accounts for 57.8% of the total number of recent SARS cases identified as a respiratory virus. Other respiratory viruses that deserve attention in young children are the rhinovirus and Sars-Cov-2 (Covid-19).

Among the total number of deaths, the growth of influenza A already means that the percentage associated with this virus begins to approach that observed for Covid-19 in the last four weeks, based on current records. Despite this, Covid-19 still has a large prevalence in the mortality of the elderly, which is also the age group that stands out most in relation to deaths from SARS.

In the last four epidemiological weeks, the prevalence among cases with a positive result for respiratory viruses was influenza A (23%), influenza B (0.4%), respiratory syncytial virus (57.8%) and Sars-CoV-2 /Covid-19 (10.7%). Among the deaths, the presence of these same viruses among the positive ones was influenza A (32%), influenza B (0.3%), respiratory syncytial virus (10.8%), and Sars-CoV-2/Covid-19 (53.9%).

Researcher at the Scientific Computing Program (Procc/Fiocruz) and coordinator of InfoGripe, Marcelo Gomes reinforces the importance of vaccination – which has an open campaign for influenza A, the flu virus – and the use of appropriate masks (N95, KN95, PFF2 ) to anyone who goes to a health unit and who has symptoms of a respiratory infection.

In relation to SARS cases due to Covid-19, the sign of decline continues in the states of the Central-West, Southeast and South, and stability at relatively low levels in the other regions.

Among the capitals, 21 show signs of an increase in SARS: Aracaju (SE), Belém (PA), Belo Horizonte (MG), Plano Piloto and surroundings of Brasília (DF), Campo Grande (MS), Curitiba (PR), Florianópolis (SC), Fortaleza (CE), Gioania (GO), João Pessoa (PB), Macapá (AP), Maceió (AL), Manaus (AM), Natal (RN), Porto Alegre (RS), Porto Velho (RO ), Recife (PE), Rio Branco (AC), Rio de Janeiro (RJ), Salvador (BA) and São Paulo (SP).

Positive results for respiratory viruses and deaths in 2024

Regarding the epidemiological year 2024, 38,670 cases of SARS have already been reported, 17,562 (45.4%) with a positive laboratory result for a respiratory virus, 14,563 (37.7%) negative, and at least 4,308 (11.1%) awaiting laboratory results. Positivity data for recent weeks is subject to major changes in subsequent updates due to the flow of case notification and insertion of the associated laboratory result. Among the positive cases this year, there are influenza A (15.4%), influenza B (0.3%), respiratory syncytial virus (32.8%) and Sars-CoV-2/Covid-19 (38 .9%).

In relation to SARS deaths in 2024, regardless of the presence of fever, 2,956 deaths have already been recorded, 1,753 (59.3%) with a positive laboratory result for a respiratory virus, 951 (32.2%) negative, and at least 102 (3.5%) awaiting laboratory results. Among the positives this year, there is influenza A (12.7%), influenza B (0.2%), respiratory syncytial virus (3.7%) and Sars-CoV-2/Covid-19 (80% ). In the last four epidemiological weeks, the prevalence among positive cases was influenza A (32%), influenza B (0.3%), respiratory syncytial virus (10.8%) and Sars-CoV-2/Covid-19 ( 53.9%).