Brazil Warns of Severe Respiratory Illness as Early Flu Wave Intensifies

Overview

• National surveillance shows the flu season began earlier and is hitting harder this year, with severe influenza cases roughly doubling compared with the same stretch of 2025.
• To boost protection, the federal government moved up the flu vaccination drive and reports about 6 million doses given so far, with a goal to reach 90% of priority groups by May 30.
• Fiocruz’s latest InfoGripe bulletin lists 18 states plus the Federal District at alert, risk or high‑risk for severe cases, and projects increases in 13 of them.
• Recent lab results indicate influenza A and rhinovirus cause most current infections, while confirmed deaths tied to severe respiratory illness this year most often involve Covid‑19 and influenza A.
• Local impact is evident, with Jundiaí confirming its first 2026 death from severe respiratory syndrome due to influenza and urging residents in priority groups to get free shots through the public health system.