Taste of flu: new technique releases flavor when detecting viruses Cases of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) reached the highest level in the last three years in Acre. Between epidemiological weeks 1 and 28 of 2026, 1,999 hospitalizations were recorded. This number is higher than the same period in 2024, when there were 1,732 cases, and 2025, which had 1,481. ? Join the g1 AC channel on WhatsApp The data is part of the epidemiological bulletin released by the State Department of Health (Sesacre) last Friday (24). According to the survey, children and the elderly remain the most vulnerable groups to severe forms of the disease. Among hospitalizations recorded this year, the highest concentration occurred among children aged 2 to 4 years, with 411 cases, followed by those aged 5 to 9 years (370), children under 2 years old (308) and people aged 60 years or over (377). (See graph below) Children up to 9 years old and elderly people aged 60 and over account for most of the SARS hospitalizations in Acre Sesacre/Sivep-Gripe/MS ?In view of the increase in hospitalizations, the Acre government declared a public health emergency on June 3rd. The measure, valid for 90 days, was adopted after increased pressure on the hospital network and allows the adoption of administrative actions to expand patient care capacity. According to the data, consultations for flu syndrome fell to 13,034 records in 2026, compared to 16,506 in 2025 and 15,211 in 2024. In other words, there was a reduction in consultations for mild cases, while occurrences that evolved into serious conditions and required hospitalization increased. Transmission monitoring The bulletin also points out that the transmission of respiratory syndromes continued to be concentrated in the first half of the year, with greater intensity between epidemiological weeks 13 and 23, a period that corresponds to the end of March and the months of April, May and June. This year, the peak in hospitalizations occurred in week 22, with 103 records, followed by a slowdown in the last weeks analyzed. READ MORE: Acre has more than 1,600 cases of respiratory syndromes; children and the elderly are most affected Rio Branco is among the three capitals with an increase and increase in severe flu syndromes, says Fiocruz Postpartum women from 10 municipalities in Acre have not been vaccinated against the flu, according to the bulletin Although hospitalizations have increased, visits for flu syndrome have shown the opposite trend. Furthermore, laboratory analyzes show that rhinovirus continues to be the most common respiratory agent in Acre in 2026, with 184 detections in the samples analyzed. With almost 2,000 hospitalizations due to severe respiratory syndrome, Acre records the highest number in three years Getty Images The Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), responsible for 64 confirmations, and different subtypes of Influenza A also appear with significant circulation. According to the bulletin, this year's scenario differs from previous ones due to the simultaneous circulation of several respiratory viruses. Capital concentrates more than half of the cases The survey also shows that the Baixo Acre and Purus Health Region concentrated 58.48% of all SARS cases registered in the state, with 1,169 notifications. Alone, Rio Branco accounted for 856 cases, equivalent to 42.8% of all hospitalizations registered in Acre up to epidemiological week 28. Next come Cruzeiro do Sul (292), Marechal Thaumaturgo (159), Feijó (133) and Mâncio Lima (101). (See graph below) According to Sesacre, the concentration occurs because the capital brings together reference hospitals that receive patients referred from different municipalities. Deaths Vaccination remains the main strategy to reduce serious cases Disclosure/PMBM The bulletin also points to a change in the profile of deaths caused by SARS. While deaths among people aged 60 and over fell from 87 in 2024 to 46 in 2025 and 17 this year, deaths among children under 2 years of age increased. According to the data, there were six records in 2024, seven in 2025 and 13 until epidemiological week 28 of 2026. In total, Acre accounts for 52 deaths from SARS this year, against 101 in 2025 and 151 in 2024. ? Sesacre reinforces that vaccination continues to be the main strategy to reduce serious cases and recommends that children, the elderly, pregnant women and people immunosuppressed people keep their immunization up to date. The bulletin also guides the adoption of measures such as hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette and the use of masks by healthcare professionals and people with respiratory symptoms. VIDEOS: g1 ´