site.btaVarna Becomes Fifth Region to Declare Flu Epidemic

On Tuesday, Varna became the fifth out of 28 administrative regions in Bulgaria to declare a flu epidemic. The epidemic period in the seaside region is from January 25 to 31, said Anka Baeva, head of the Epidemic Control Department of the Varna Regional Health Inspectorate.

A similar situation has been declared (in this order) in the regions of Smolyan, Gabrovo, Plovdiv and Pleven.

Flu incidence in Varna Region is 214 per 10,000 population. Schools have reported rates of between 17% and 18%. In-person classes will continue, Baeva said. She explained that schools may have a flu break if incidence rises to 28-30%.

Elective consultations for healthy pregnant women and children, preventive checkups and compulsory immunization and reimmunization procedures are cancelled during a flu epidemic, the Health Ministry said. Strict daily filtering should be carried out in nurseries, kindergartens and schools. Visits to hospitals and social care institutions for children and adults are prohibited.