Fiocruz Flags Early Influenza A Surge Driving Severe Respiratory Cases Across Brazil

Overview

• Fiocruz’s March 20 InfoGripe bulletin reports Influenza A circulating earlier than expected and gaining momentum nationwide.
• Rising severe acute respiratory syndrome activity is noted in Mato Grosso, most of the Northeast except Piauí, and in the North and Southeast, including Amapá, Pará, Rondônia, Rio de Janeiro and Espírito Santo.
• Amapá is classified at an alert activity level with short- and long‑term growth trends, and Macapá is among 18 cities showing recent increases.
• Since early 2026, Brazil has recorded 20,311 SRAG notifications with 7,523 virus‑positive results; detected cases are led by rhinovirus (41.9%), followed by Influenza A (21.8%), SARS‑CoV‑2 (14.7%), RSV (13.4%) and Influenza B (1.5%), while deaths skew toward SARS‑CoV‑2 and Influenza A.
• The influenza campaign runs March 28 to May 30 in much of the country with a national mobilization day next Saturday, as local readiness varies with only about 20% coverage among priority groups in Macapá and Sergipe receiving 180,000 doses, roughly 21% of its target population.