The city of São Paulo carries out rapid tests for flu syndrome

The city of São Paulo began to carry out rapid tests for flu-like illness in its Emergency Care (UPA), Outpatient Medical (AMA), Emergency Care (PA) and Emergency Room units. Testing is being carried out in the screening sector to identify covid-19 positive cases. The method used in patients is the antigen, to identify cases more quickly and maintain patient monitoring in the city of São Paulo.

According to the Municipal Health Department of São Paulo (SMS), in the last week there was a significant increase in people with flu-like illness who sought their health facilities. “In November 2021, the SMS recorded a total of 111,949 visits to people with flu-like symptoms, 56,220 of which were suspected of covid-19. This month, in the first fortnight, the SMS registers a total of 91,882 consultations with respiratory conditions, with 45,325 being suspected of covid-19”, informed the secretariat.

The secretariat also informed that it continues to monitor the epidemiological scenario of viral diseases in the city, including the influenza virus (flu). Surveillance is carried out using samples from cases of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SRAG) and in cases of flu syndrome with the collection of samples of nasal secretion in cases of SARS of patients hospitalized in the Intensive Care Units (ICU) and with the collection of these samples in sentinel health units such as AMA, children's and general hospitals, both public and private.

The Health Department said that the samples are sent to the Public Health Laboratory at the Adolfo Lutz Institute, which identifies the disease and the type of virus. "The identification of the types of circulating viral strains allows us to assess the behavior of the flu virus in the city, subsidizing the SMS in its assistance actions, vaccination, health education campaigns and other relevant interventions".

According to the secretariat's data, this year 119,873 cases of SRAG were reported in the city, requiring hospitalization. Of these, 205 (0.2%) were confirmed to be caused by the influenza virus. In 2020, 120,850 cases of hospitalized SRAG were reported, of which 242 were classified as influenza SRAG. Of the 205 cases of hospitalized SRAG, 20 (9.8%) were positive for influenza A (H1N1) pdm09A, four (3.8% for seasonal influenza A (H3), 134 (34.3%) for influenza A ( not subtyped) and 47 (19.9%) for influenza B.

The guidance of the Department of Health is that everyone continue with the distance of at least one meter, cover their mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, and wash their hands immediately after contact with respiratory secretions, important measures for the prevention of both influenza virus and covid-19.

“Seasonal influenza is an acute febrile infectious disease with a higher risk of complications in some vulnerable groups. The disease can progress to more serious forms such as SRAG and even death”, warned the department.

Text translated using artificial intelligence.