Brazil has registered a drastic increase in cases of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) – or a regular cold infection -between May and June. Even before winter arrived, the country had already registered double the number of cases in comparison to the same period of last year, coming to more than 103 thousand notifications in 2025.
The date is only about severe infection and those who need hospitalization, says Tatiana Portella, researcher of the Computational Science Program and from Infogripe in an interview to the ‘Repórter SUS (Unified Health System Reporter)’ podcast.
She explains that the main responsible parties for the current scenario are the influenza virus, which affects more adults and elderly, and the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), more common in small children. It is normal that the incidence of these viruses increase during the coldest and driest months of the year. But the expansion of the number of hospitalizations has been brought to the spotlight, according to the specialist.
There isn’t a definite explanation about this advance in the numbers of hospitalized patients, just possibilities. Besides a more favorable climate for the virus, the simultaneous circulation of various pathogens and vaccination rate influence the scenario. Portella stresses the importance of vigilance and data collection.
“It’s very important to detect in advance an expressive increase to send alerts for the government to plan increase in hospital resources. Epidemiological surveillance is not exactly considered as ‘news’, but it’s the main step for this prevention process of eventual hospital overcrowding”.
In Brazil, the number of deaths because of SARS exceeds 5,6 thousand this year, with a majority caused by influenza and Covid-19. Although coronavirus represents less than 2% of the cases, it was responsible for 30% of deaths since January, which means that it’s still a significant threat. Vaccination is one of the main resources to avoid severe cases and to follow Covid orientations, like the use of masks.
Global scenario
The major virus respiratory circulation that happens periodically has not only been observed in Brazil. Since the beginning of this year, the World Health Organization (WHO) releases epidemiological alerts about the subject, in the South and the North Hemisphere. In January, the entity pointed out the high incidence of Flu syndromes and SARS in various countries such as Italy, Switzerland, France, England, Canada, Mexico, United States and Jamaica.
In the South Hemisphere, the WHO has already alerted for a severe acute respiratory syndrome increase since April in countries such as Chile, Paraguay and some regions of Colombia and Ecuador. To control this scenario, the international authority recommended that government administrations had preparation plans, with the strengthening of epidemiological surveillance, laboratory tests for more severe cases and prevention and control measures.
Among actions, vaccination against influenza, Covid-19 and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is guaranteed, especially for high risk groups, such as elderly, people with comorbidities, small children, pregnant women and health professionals. In Brazil, the Ministry of Health announced an additional investment of US$ 9 million to pay for hospitalization, in addition to US$ 18 million already directed for these needs.
