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The number of Covid-19 cases fell in Epidemiological Week 11, according to a report from the Ministry of Health. Between March 10 and 16, there were 48,038 new cases and 262 deaths from the disease. This is the lowest number of cases recorded since the period after Carnival, according to information from the Coronavirus Panel.
Since the beginning of the year, state health departments have reported 483,357 cases of Covid-19 and 2,328 deaths. In the midst of a dengue epidemic — which has killed more than 750 people since January 1st — Covid continues to claim more victims than the current epidemic that scares Brazilians.
Brazil surpasses 2 million cases of dengue
Infectious disease specialist Marcelo Daher, who is also a member of the Brazilian Infectious Diseases Society, explains that today Covid is less lethal than a few years ago, but it continues to be a disease that can lead to death.
“Sometimes people may think that others would die naturally — and Covid was just a little push. But it was precisely the push that led to his death. So, remember that Covid has a vaccine, that they are effective against the disease. Therefore, anyone who has not yet been vaccinated should get vaccinated.”
More cases of Influenza
Since the post-carnival week, the virus influenza has been showing growth in recent weeks. Flu Syndrome Sentinel Surveillance showed that, of the 147 viruses identified, 48% were influenza. To reduce cases of virus infection, the flu vaccination campaign, scheduled to begin on the 25th, was brought forward and health units are already making doses available to people in the priority group.
The businesswoman from Juiz de Fora, MG, Stela Pereira is over 60 years old. She is asthmatic and has had two pneumonias. For her, the vaccine remains the best way to prevent any disease from getting worse.
“As soon as the flu vaccine is released, I will immediately get immunized, so as not to run the risk of worsening the flu, turning into pneumonia. For me, the flu vaccine is perfect, it immunizes me and keeps me free from any unpleasant illness”, she says.
Edition: Zildenor Dourado
Zildenor Dourado has a degree in Journalism and Literature/Portuguese from the University of Brasília. He is a specialist in Legislative Communication, from Unilegis, of the Federal Senate. He worked as a reporter and editor for the newspapers Tribuna da Bahia, A Tarde and Jornal de Brasília. in addition to several union press vehicles. He worked as a publicist for the Legislative Chamber of the Federal District, where he was a reporter, editor and head of the Publicity and Press Relations Section.
