Number of districts in Bulgaria subject to flu epidemic declarations grows

Three additional districts in Bulgaria have declared a flu epidemic, the Health Ministry said on January 20.

After Haskovo and Vidin, temporary measures are also being introduced in Yambol from January 21 to 27, in Plovdiv from January 22 to 28 and in Blagoevgrad from January 22 to 30.

Currently, the flu epidemic declaration is in effect in Haskovo to January 31 and in Vidin to January 26.

By order of the directors of the districts’ regional health inspectorates, preventive examinations, mandatory immunisations and re-immunisations and scheduled consultations of healthy pregnant women and children are suspended.

Visits to medical institutions for hospital care and to social services institutions and residential social services for children and adults are also suspended.

In order to limit the number of ill people in organised children’s and school groups, an enhanced filter is being introduced to prevent children with clinical symptoms of flu and acute respiratory infections from entering. Enhanced disinfection of premises will also be carried out.

In addition, in Yambol, the in-person learning process will be suspended from January 22. In Blagoevgrad, medical staff at medical institutions must wear masks. The remaining measures are the same for the five districts.

In connection with the increased morbidity and increasing cases of influenza, the Ministry of Health has issued general recommendations to the public, in order to reduce the risk of infection and spread of viruses.

The causative agents of acute respiratory diseases and influenza are spread mainly in two ways – from person to person and through contact with contaminated surfaces or objects.

Some people are at greater risk of severe illness. Among the risk groups are pregnant women; people with lung diseases; adults, especially over 65 years of age; young children, especially under five years of age; newborns, especially premature and those under 6 months of age; people with chronic diseases, including immunocompromised people.

Please support The Sofia Globe’s independent journalism by becoming a subscriber to our page on Patreon:

Become a Patron!

The Sofia Globe staff

The Sofia Globe - the Sofia-based fully independent English-language news and features website, covering Bulgaria, the Balkans and the EU. Sign up to subscribe to sofiaglobe.com's daily bulletin through the form on our homepage. https://www.patreon.com/user?u=32709292