Brazil Experienced Explosion of Hospitalizations for Respiratory Problems, Says Fiocruz

[Judi Lynn]

Curve is dizzying, according to a researcher who coordinates the official monitoring of cases
Mar.27.2020 1:24PM

Mônica Bergamo
SÃO PAULO
After the first confirmed case of coronavirus in Brazil on February 25, Brazil experienced an explosion in hospital admission records for people with severe respiratory failure, according to data from Fiocruz.

That week, 662 people were hospitalized in the country with acute respiratory disease, with symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, and difficulty breathing.

In the week between March 15 and March 21, the number of new hospitalized patients had already jumped to 2,250 patients, according to the projection made based on official notifications sent by public health units and hospitals, and some private ones, from all over the world to the Ministry of Health.

"It is a number ten times higher than the historical average, of around 250 cases of hospitalization in February and March, in previous years", says researcher Marcelo Ferreira da Costa Gomes, from Fiocruz (Fundação Oswaldo Cruz).

More:
https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/internacional/en/scienceandhealth/2020/03/brazil-experienced-explosion-of-hospitalizations-for-respiratory-problems-says-fiocruz.shtml?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsen