Brazil has an increase in cases of co-infection with Covid and influenza, says laboratory

Influenza and Covid-19 co-infection cases have increased in Brazil.

According to a survey carried out by the Dasa group, an integrated health network, identified that cases of Covid-19 and influenza coinfection increased from 2.02% in the week of December 29, 2021 to January 4, 2022, to 2.86% this week, January 5-11, 2022.

According to Dasa, in the more than 900 units of the group, 293 cases of co-infection were identified until January 12, 2022.

The first case of Covid-19 and influenza co-infection was identified in Israel and reported in late December 2021.

To CNN, João Prats, an infectious disease specialist at BP – A Beneficência Portuguesa de São Paulo, said that it is not as if we have a combined virus, a mixture.

“The viruses that are circulating have a similar form of transmission and can infect people,” he said.

Brazil has also seen an increase in demand for SARS-CoV-2 testing. On the Dasa network, the number went from 26.01% from December 29, 2021 to January 4, 2022, to 42.68%, this week from January 5 to 11, 2022.

According to information from the laboratory, the volume of RT-PCR tests for Covid-19 grew by 81% in one week.

In some capitals, such as Rio de Janeiro, for example, the volume of tests for influenza in the same period grew by more than 189.3%. São Paulo, on the other hand, saw the volume of tests increase by 43.3%.

In the Federal District, the volume of tests for influenza increased 101.5% in the period, compared to the last week.

The flu virus that is circulating and raising concern is the H3N2 strain of influenza A.

So far, the vaccines available do not cover protection against the variant — and this should take place from March, according to the Butantan Institute, maker of the immunizer.

However, experts believe that, at the moment, any precaution is welcome, even without H3N2 coverage.

“The most important thing is to avoid agglomerations and take the booster doses of the Covid-19 vaccine and the influenza update that will occur at the beginning of this year”, points out Prats. He appeals to those who have “mild symptoms, colds, flu, do not visit other people”, he warns.