First case of Indian variant of coronavirus registered in Bulgaria

A sample of a COVID-19 infected patient from Pleven (Northern Bulgaria) was classified as an Indian variant of the coronavirus. This was announced on the official website of the National Centre for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases (NCIPD) on June 17.

The patient is a man in the age group between 20 and 30, from Pleven. The announcement states that he has temporary residence in the country. He has not declared a trip abroad.

He was examined in the hospital, having symptoms of fever, shortness of breath and chest pain. He was diagnosed with COVID-19, but was not hospitalized and is under home treatment.

The sample was sequenced in May, and the analysis did not show the presence of the Indian variant. A re-analysis in the International Gene Bank in June revealed the presence of indicators for the "delta" variant.

NCIPD informs that in the months of April and May a total of 34 samples from the Pleven district were sequenced, in which no other case of B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant was detected.

The centre continues to monitor the spread of COVID-19 in the country, focusing on the search for variants with accelerated spread, altered virulence and immunogenicity that are important for public health.

The Ministry of Health is urging citizens to get vaccinated against COVID-19 because vaccines are the only means of preventing coronavirus variants. The more people are vaccinated, the less likely is to have another wave of the virus in the country.