At least 886 people die of swine flu in Brazil in 2016

At least 886 people have died of the influenza A virus subtype H1N1, or swine flu, in Brazil so far this year, said a report released on Friday by the country's health ministry.

The report said a total of 4,581 cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome have been registered in 2016. This respiratory disease is provoked by the A(H1N1) influenza.

Apart from the deaths related to the A(H1N1) virus, 93 deaths have also been registered in 2016 from other types of flu.

Brazil's Health Ministry reported that during the last week, 603 new cases of A(H1N1) have been identified in the South American country.

In 2015, 36 people died of the A(H1N1) virus in Brazil, while there were 163 deaths in 2014 and 768 deaths in 2013.

The health ministry said the National Vaccination Campaign has allowed over 47.6 million people to be vaccinated against the influenza, accounting for around 95 percent of the target population.

The campaign which was directed at priority risk groups ended on May 20.

(APD)