Fiocruz points to an increase in Covid-19 cases in four states

The Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz) warned this Thursday (10th) of the increase in cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in four states: Amazonas, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Sul and São Paulo. According to the foundation’s InfoGripe newsletter, the reason is a new advance of Covid-19.

InfoGripe coordinator Marcelo Gomes recalls that, in the last week, this sign was already observed in Amazonas, now also appearing in three other states. He points out that this is a trend that could spread across the country.

“As laboratory data take longer to enter the system, it is expected that the numbers of cases in recent weeks will be higher than what was observed in this update, and may even increase the number of states in such a situation”, he explains.

The data released by InfoGripe this Thursday take into account the numbers from the Influenza Epidemiological Surveillance Information System until November 7th.

The increase in those infected by the coronavirus in RJ, AM and SP is observed in the group over 18 years old, while in Rio Grande do Sul, from 60 years old.

Gomes states that it is still not possible to say whether the growth of SARS cases is related to new strains of the coronavirus, such as BQ.1, a subvariant of Ômicron.

Last week, Covid-19 represented 26% of patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome in the country, a proportion that rose to 36.9%. The InfoGripe coordinator says he believes that the hypothesis of two annual peaks of Covid-19 becomes more likely.

“Unlike influenza and other respiratory viruses with typically a peak per year, Covid-19 may be heading towards a reality in which we have to live with two moments of increased circulation”, says Gomes.

Among the other causes of SARS, influenza A virus represents 14.8% of cases; influenza B, 0.5%; and respiratory syncytial virus, 26.1%. In the case of the flu, the states of São Paulo and Mato Grosso do Sul, in addition to the Federal District, show a trend of falling sick.

Ten of the 27 federative units show moderate SARS growth in the long term trend: Alagoas, Amazonas, Bahia, Ceará, Goiás, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Piauí, Rio Grande do Norte and Rio de Janeiro.