Prof Hristova: Flu activity in Bulgaria expected to peak in late January

The flu virus is expected to peak in late January - early February, the Head of the National Centre for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, prof. Iva Hristova, told BNT morning programme on January 6.

According to her, the flu activity in the country is yet to increase, but even at the moment there are many cases. We are seeing an increase in the number of samples submitted that show evidence of influenza virus, an increasing percentage are positive, we have long passed the 10% that shows the flu has arrived, she explained.

Prof. Hristova recommended that we protect ourselves to protect others.

"When a person gets ill and then recovers, he/she has already destroyed the virus in their body. If the person, while sick, does not transmit the virus to other people, he/she will stop the circulation, which means: at the first symptoms, when we don't feel well, we should self-isolate."

She said the body's immune system is key to influenza viruses, but since we have been in contact with SARS-CoV-2 for three years, most people have had it asymptomatically.

"This contact creates a readiness to deal with the flu quickly. On the other hand, we have had two zero years of barely being exposed to the influenza virus and the lack of this preparedness of our immune systems is causing higher severity now," Prof. Hristova said.

According to her, influenza A (H1N1) is expected to prevail.