Asunción, IP Agency.- Given the drop in temperature and taking into account the simultaneous circulation of various respiratory viruses, the Ministry of Health urges people to take precautions to avoid getting sick and prevent infections.
Likewise, the health portfolio remembers to wash hands correctly and frequently, ventilate closed environments, cover the mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, and avoid coming into close contact with people who show signs of respiratory illness.
It also emphasizes the importance of accessing vaccination against circulating respiratory viruses. Vaccines against covid-19 and influenza are available from 6 months of age, in the country’s vaccination centers.
In the presence of fever or respiratory symptoms (cough, sore throat or other), it is recommended to wear a mask, seek medical attention and not self-medicate, in order to prevent complications of the condition.
Timely medical consultation is essential to have a diagnosis, determine the virus, receive the corresponding treatment, and comply with rest to prevent the spread of the disease.
Epidemiological situation
In week (SE) 37, it is observed that the number of flu consultations remains similar to that registered in the previous week, with more than 38,200 consultations nationwide, observing a plateau of cases, so the epidemic curve continues. above the alert threshold.
According to the recent report, there is evidence of circulation of respiratory syncytial virus, followed by SARS-CoV2 and Rhinovirus, which are the ones that are registering the highest demand for consultations and hospitalizations for respiratory conditions in health facilities.
There were 404 hospitalized patients with severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) in the Sentinel Centers, reflecting a slight decrease of 1% compared to the previous week. The majority of hospitalized cases are associated with respiratory syncytial virus and SARS-CoV2.
56% of hospitalizations correspond to pediatric age, 50% being children under 2 years of age and 44% to adults, of which 48% are over 60 years of age.
In this period, the respiratory viruses identified among hospitalized patients, in addition to syncytial virus, SARS-CoV2 and Rhinovirus, were cases of Parainfluenza, Metapneumovirus, Influenza B and Adenovirus.
Of the total number of hospitalized patients associated with SARS-CoV2 this year, 43% correspond to infections registered in the last three months. 33% of these are over 60 years old and 28% are less than 2 years old. Of these, 12% entered the intensive care unit and 14% died.
The updated report shows that 838 children under 2 years of age required hospitalization due to syncytial virus so far this year; 160 of them were admitted to the intensive care unit.
Covid-19
At the end of week (SE) 37, 256 positive cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in 17 regions of the country. So far, the largest number of cases of infection come from the Metropolitan axis: Central (32%) and Asunción (30%).
3,440 samples were processed for SARS-COV2, showing a positivity of 7.4%.
On the other hand, there is a 13% increase in hospitalizations due to covid-19. About 36 people were hospitalized due to covid-19, 4 of them required intensive care. The highest burden of hospitalizations is observed in children under 5 years of age and adults over 80 years of age.
According to the report, no deaths were confirmed at the end of last week. So far this year, 100 deaths from covid-19 have been reported.
Genomic surveillance
The report from the Central Public Health Laboratory informs that the SARS-CoV2 variant, the most frequent omicron sublineage, is LB.1 (BA.2.86.1.1.9.2.1.3), in Alto Paraná and Asunción. The second most frequent variant is JN.1, found in Asunción, Central, Alto Paraná.
Meanwhile, the KP.3.1 variant registered in Capital, Central and Itapúa and KP.2.2 has only been detected in Alto Paraná.
In addition, the MJ.1 variant has been identified (a sample from the Central department) of which there are only 50 sequences published in Gisaid worldwide.
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2024-10-01 04:21:23
