The number of influenza deaths for the first five months of 2016 has crushed the number of fatalities reported during all of 2015, according to Ministry of Health data reported in a Globo.com report (computer translated).

This is a 3-dimensional illustration showing the different features of an influenza virus, including the surface proteins hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA)/CDC
This is a 3-dimensional illustration showing the different features of an influenza virus, including the surface proteins hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA)/CDC

From Jan. 1 through June 4 this year, Brazilian health officials have reported 886 deaths from H1N1 influenza, including 122 deaths reported in just the past week.

This compares to 36 H1N1 fatalities in all of 2015 and 163 deaths in all of 2014.

In total, health authorities have seen in excess of 4500 severe H1N1 influenza respiratory illnesses so far this year.

São Paulo leads all states with 402 deaths by H1N1 influenza, accounting for approximately 45 percent of cases.

In addition to the fatalities by H1N1 influenza, an additional 93 deaths have been recorded caused by other types of influenza.

According to the Ministry of Health, the national campaign of vaccination against influenza vaccinated more than 47.6 million people, which corresponds to 95.5% of the target audience. The campaign is aimed at certain priority groups: children 6 months to 5 years, pregnant women, women who gave birth less than 45 days, the elderly, health professionals, indigenous peoples and people with chronic diseases and other diseases that compromise the immunity.

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