2,000 people a year die in Bulgaria after seasonal flu

Seasonal influenza kills 2,000 people a year in Bulgaria. The virus mainly affects children under the age of 5 and adults over 65.

The best time for vaccination is October and November.

Free-of-charge immunisation for people aged 65 and older has started. This year, 348, 000 doses of flu vaccines have been provided under the national programme.

Over 15,000 people have already had the flu jab. Medics in more remote regions have not yet received the vaccines under the programme. There is no proven case of influenza in Bulgaria yet.

"Covid-19 and the 'FLiRT' variant is causing a lot of illness at the moment, and at least half of the cases that go to the GP are Covid-19. That's what the data from some studies they're doing show. Although not all do tests to confirm. There are of course rhinoviruses and other respiratory viruses," said Assoc. Prof. Angel Kunchev, chief state health inspector.

"We think now is the time for H3N2 to dominate. Usually the two subtypes swap places. After being dominant in one season it weakens in the next season, giving way to the other A virus. The clinical picture is similar for all influenza viruses," added Prof. Nely Korsun, head of the National Influenza Laboratory, NCIPB.