Flu: SP has increased number of visits in February – 03/13/2024 – Health

The state of São Paulo saw an increase in visits for respiratory syndrome caused by influenza, the flu virus, of 61% in February compared to January.

According to data from the SES (State Department of Health), from December 31, 2023 to February 3, 2024 (1st to 5th epidemiological weeks) 89 confirmed cases of Srag (severe acute respiratory syndrome) were recorded in the state. From February 4th to March 2nd (6th to 9th weeks), the number jumped to 144.

And, in the first week of March, 249 cases of SARS due to flu were recorded, with data up to last Saturday (9). Notification and confirmation of influenza cases are only mandatory when the patient is hospitalized due to respiratory syndrome.

In 2023, until the 8th epidemiological week (February 25), the state of São Paulo had registered 97 cases of respiratory syndrome caused by influenza. In 2024, there were 202 cases in the same period, an increase of 108%.

Carla Kobayashi, infectious disease specialist at Hospital Sírio-Libanês, explains that this increase in the number of flu cases “a little anticipates the pattern of years prior to the pandemic.” According to the infectious disease specialist, influenza is a seasonal disease that usually occurs in autumn and winter.

“We have an increase in the number of flu cases that starts in March and lasts until the end of August. This well-defined standardization has stopped happening since the Covid pandemic. Outbreaks have started to occur at unexpected times. But we still have a higher number of flu cases in autumn and winter”, he said.

The doctor highlights the importance of vaccination mainly because there will still be many cases of influenza until winter. According to her, in cases of more serious respiratory symptoms, it is necessary to seek care and undergo an exam to assess whether it is the flu or Covid. “Differentiating just by symptoms is not so precise, both are flu-like syndromes. But influenza has a pattern of high fever, significant body pain, while Covid can present with gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea and vomiting”, she says.

According to Fiocruz’s latest Infogripe bulletin, released on Thursday (7), the South, Southeast, North and Northeast regions show an increase in influenza transmission, combined with Covid. The note also points to an increase in new weekly records of respiratory syndromes in all regions of the country.

On February 29, the Ministry of Health announced that it would bring forward flu vaccination in all other regions of the country, except the North, which already had the campaign at the end of 2023. The campaign usually takes place between the months of April and May, but this year, it will start on March 25th.

The virus that causes the flu is Influenza, with types A and B being the most common among humans. In the case of A, the H1N1 and H3N2 strains are the main causes of the disease, which is why the vaccine developed by the Butantan Institute and available at SUS contains both strains in its formulation. In addition to them, a third lineage makes up the vaccine. In this case, it is type B, which is divided into Yamagata and Victoria – it is this last lineage that was used in the 2023 vaccine.

Private hospitals in São Paulo record a rise in flu cases

In the city of São Paulo, private hospitals have already registered an increase in visits for respiratory syndrome caused by influenza, the flu virus, especially in the post-Carnival period.

According to data from Hospital Sírio-Libanês, from January to February, respiratory care confirmed for influenza A increased by 200%, going from 105 cases in January to 349 by the last week of February.

The Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein said that, from January 28th to February 3rd, 24 consultations and four hospitalizations due to influenza were recorded. In the following month, from February 25th to March 2nd, 88 consultations and five hospitalizations were recorded, an increase of 266% in consultations compared to January.

The main network of private hospitals in Brazil, Rede D’Or said that flu visits are not mandatory notification and, therefore, it would not be able to provide data on this type of occurrence for the period.