Flu epidemic declared in Bulgaria’s Bourgas
An influenza pandemic has been declared in the Bulgarian Black Sea city of Bourgas, chief state health inspector Dr Angel Kunchev said on January 17 2014.
Over the past four days, the rate of flu was 204 people out of 10 000, over the threshold for the declaration of a pandemic.
The declaration means that schools in Bourgas are closed until January 22 inclusive.
Measures against the flu include cancellation of scheduled operations at medical institutions, suspension of visits and routine consultations for healthy pregnant women as well as children, barring of ill children from kindergartens and ill staff not being allowed to work at kindergartens, according to the state health inspectorate.
There would also be limitations on public events such as conferences, sports events and other meetings.
Local media said that municipalities surrounding Bourgas were not subject to the same declaration because the incidence of flu there continued to be low.
On January 15, Bulgarian media said that declarations of a flu pandemic were possible in major cities including Sofia with effect from January 20. Bulgaria’s capital had the highest incidence of flu but had not yet reached the levels requiring a declaration, the state health inspectorate said at the time.
(Photo: Paul Barker/sxc.hu)
Other areas said to be at risk included Yambol, Pazardzhik, Smolyan and Pleven.
