Respiratory syncytial virus is the main cause of hospitalizations; Fiocruz warns about vaccinating pregnant women and the priority public
Cases of SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) increased in children under 2 years of age in 4 of the 5 regions of the country – North, Northeast, Central-West and Southeast.
According to the InfoGripe Bulletin, released by Fiocruz (Fundação Oswaldo Cruz) on Thursday (April 16, 2026), the increase in hospitalizations for RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) is the main factor in the increase in cases in this age group.
The survey refers to Epidemiological Week 14, which covers the period from April 5th to 11th. According to the bulletin, serious cases of covid-19 continue to fall in the country.
The researcher at the InfoGripe Bulletin and Procc/Fiocruz (Fiocruz Scientific Computing Program) Tatiana Portella clarified that RSV is one of the main causes of hospitalizations for SARS in young children, in addition to being one of the main causes of bronchiolitis.
Therefore, she considers it essential that pregnant women from the 28th week onwards take the vaccine against the virus to protect their babies in the first months of life.
With the increase in hospitalizations for influenza A in several states, the researcher warns that “It is also essential that the priority population that has not yet been vaccinated seeks a health center as soon as possible to receive the annual dose of the vaccine”.
NATIONAL SCENARIO
SARS cases show stability in short and long-term trends in Brazil. In relation to the States, the new bulletin points out that 14 continue to have an incidence of SARS at alert, risk or high risk levels in the last 2 weeks, with a sign of growth in the long-term trend (last 6 weeks) until Epidemiological Week 14.
They are: Acre, Pará and Tocantins (North); Maranhão, Piauí, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Sergipe and Bahia (Northeast); Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul and Goiás (Central-West); and Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro (Southeast).
The growth situation related to RSV was observed throughout the Center-West and Southeast, in addition to Acre, Pará, Tocantins and Roraima (North) and Maranhão, Paraíba, Rio Grande do Norte, Pernambuco, Alagoas, Sergipe and Bahia (Northeast).
The bulletin also shows that incidences of influenza A continue to increase in much of the Center-South region (Mato Grosso, Goiás, Distrito Federal, Mato Grosso do Sul, São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo, Paraná, Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina) and in some states in the Northeast (Paraíba, Alagoas and Sergipe) and the North (Amapá, Acre and Rondônia).
On the other hand, SARS cases associated with influenza A continue to decline in the states of Maranhão, Ceará, Piauí, Rio Grande do Norte, Bahia and Pernambuco (Northeast), in addition to Pará and Rio de Janeiro.
In most of the country, the survey reveals that SARS cases associated with rhinovirus show signs of interruption or decline in most of the country, although they continue to increase in Pará and Mato Grosso.
In relation to the capitals, 14 have an incidence of SARS at an alert, risk or high risk level with a sign of growth in the long-term trend (last 6 weeks) up to SE 14.
They are: Rio Branco, Belém, Palmas, Cuiabá, Campo Grande, São Luís, Teresina, João Pessoa, Recife, Aracaju, Maceió, Belo Horizonte, Vitória and Rio de Janeiro.
INCIDENCE AND MORTALITY
In the last 8 epidemiological weeks, the average weekly incidence and mortality maintain the characteristic pattern of greater impact at the extremes of the age groups analyzed.
The incidence of SARS is higher in young children and is mainly associated with RSV and rhinovirus. Mortality is higher among the elderly, led by influenza A and covid-19.
In relation to SARS cases due to influenza A, the incidence has impacted more children up to 4 years of age and the elderly, while mortality continues to have a greater impact on the population over 65 years of age.
Regarding the epidemiological year 2026, 37,244 cases have already been reported, 15,816 (42.5%) with a positive laboratory result for a respiratory virus; 14,723 (39.5%) negative and at least 3,990 (10.7%) awaiting results.
Among the positive cases this year, researchers from the InfoGripe Bulletin found that 41.1% were rhinovirus; 25.5% influenza A; 17.4% RSV; 10.2% of Sars-CoV-2 (covid-19); and 1.7% influenza B.
In the last 4 epidemiological weeks, the proportion of positive cases was 33% for rhinovirus; 32.2% for influenza A; 26.3% for RSV; 5.5% for Sars-CoV-2 (covid-19); and 2.4% for influenza B.
Among deaths, in the same period of time, the presence of these same viruses among those positive reached 40.8% for influenza A; 26.9% for rhinovirus; 23.3% for Sars-CoV-2 (covid-19); 5.3% for RSV; and 4.1% for influenza B.
This text was originally published by , on April 16, 2026, at 1 pm. The content is free for republication, the source is cited, and has been adapted to the standard of Poder360.
