Fiocruz warns for the increase of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome in Amazonas

Gabriel Abreu – Cenarium Magazine

MANAUS – The Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz) released on Thursday, 9, the new bulletin InfoGripe that alerts to the slight increase in the presence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) associated with influenza A virus in Amazonas. The bulletin points out a low volume of cases, but the follow-up in the coming weeks will be able to indicate if they are sporadic or early season occurrences.

The information refers to the Epidemiological Week (SE) 5, from January 29 to February 4. The analysis is based on data entered into the Epidemiological Surveillance Information System of Influenza (Sivep-Gripe) until February 6.

Of the 27 states, only Acre, Amazonas, Espírito Santo and Pernambuco show an increase in SARS in the long-term trend until SE 5. Despite this picture, Fiocruz clarifies that the age group analysis suggests this is a natural oscillation during a period of low activity.

In Amazonas, it is possible to observe a slight increase in the presence of SARS cases associated to the Influenza A virus, however, still without a clear sign of trend and with a low volume of cases. Among the capitals with increasing tendency of SARS cases: Manaus (AM), João Pessoa (PB), Porto Velho (RO), Rio Branco (AC), São Luís (MA) and Vitória (ES).

The researcher Marcelo Gomes reinforces that the evaluation can only be done with more clarity in the following analyses. “As some cases of Influenza appeared and we were not observing this virus in the recent updates, it is important to keep an eye on it, although it does not represent an outbreak. So far, there are a few cases,” explains the InfoGripe coordinator.

Gomes also emphasizes the maintenance of a positive scenario regarding SARS in the whole country. Most of the states continue to stabilize or fall at a relatively low level. The analysis points to a drop in SARS in the long term (last six weeks) and short term (last three weeks) trends.

The data still indicate a predominance of positive cases for Sars-CoV-2 (Covid-19) in the adult population. In children aged 0 to 4 years, the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) maintains an expressive presence, especially in Espírito Santo, the Federal District, Minas Gerais, São Paulo, and the three southern states. Of these, only the Federal District points to the maintenance of a high level of SARS in this age group. The others already point to a reduction throughout the month of January.

In the last four epidemiological weeks, the prevalence among the cases with positive results for respiratory viruses was 1.3% for Influenza A; 1.1% for Influenza B; 24.8% for Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV); and 61.7% for Sars-CoV-2. Among the deaths, the presence of these same viruses among the positives was 2.0% for Influenza A; 0.5% for Influenza B; 5% for RSV; and 91.0% for Sars-CoV-2.

(*) With information from Fiocruz