Guaíba is the fourth city with the highest number of deaths from respiratory diseases in Republika Srpska

Guaíba is the fourth city with the highest number of deaths from respiratory diseases in Rio Grande do Sul, according to a state health ministry committee. The city records 31 deaths due to coronavirus, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The vast majority of hospitalizations are in children. Data from January to June 2024.

Porto Alegre tops the list with 76 deaths, followed by Caxias do Sul (65), Canoas (52), Guayba, Pelotas (20), Passo Fundo (15) and Roulante (12). In total, Rio Grande do Sul already estimates 635 deaths from respiratory illness this year.

In May, the state government officially declared a public health emergency throughout the Rio Grande do Sul region for the purpose of preventing and controlling Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), with a focus on children. The announcement is justified by indicators showing a significant rise in diseases caused by respiratory viruses and an increase in demand for emergency services. These agents are characterized by a high risk to the population due to the possibility of extrapolating the ability to respond, especially in the field of pediatrics.

Guayba ranks 11th in terms of the number of hospitalizations, with 141 cases, higher than cities such as Santa Cruz do Sul, São Leopoldo, Uruguayana and Viamao, which have larger populations than the city in the metropolitan area.

For influenza and COVID-19 viruses, the state Department of Health stresses the importance of vaccination, both types of which are currently available in the public network. Against the coronavirus, Rio Grande do Sul last month began receiving a new vaccine from the Ministry of Health, updated against the sub-Omicron variant XBB 1.5, and therefore recommended for priority groups: children (from six months to children under 6 months) five years to update routine vaccination calendar), and adults in priority groups, such as people over 60 years of age and people with comorbidities.

Against influenza, influenza vaccination has been expanded to include the entire population (minimum age six months). SES also received additional doses last month so that all municipalities could continue the strategy, which was also unusually implemented in shelters housing people who need to leave their homes during floods.

The city has a vaccination coverage for priority groups against influenza of 45.40% and 30.13% against Covid-19, numbers well below the Health Ministry’s target.