Varna district declares flu epidemic

Varna district declared a flu epidemic, which starts on 25 January and will last until the end of the month. Earlier today, January 23, Pleven also announced that it is introducing the temporary measure, but from tomorrow - 24 January.

Currently, anti-epidemic measures are also in force in the Smolyan, Gabrovo and Plovdiv districts.

In case of a declared influenza epidemic, scheduled consultations of healthy pregnant women and children; preventive examinations and compulsory immunizations and re-immunizations are suspended. Strict daily filtering is carried out in nurseries, kindergartens and schools. Visits to hospitals and social institutions for children and adults are prohibited.

Depending on the influenza virus activity in a given area, temporary anti-epidemic measures may be supplemented and their period of operation extended.

Students in the schools in Varna will be attending classes because the rate of absenteeism is between 10% and 18%. Schools will close if more than 30% of schoolchildren are absent because of illness.

The Ministry of Health recommends that all persons with symptoms of acute respiratory illness (fever, runny nose, sore throat, cough, fatigue, etc.) should stay home if possible, see a doctor and limit contacts, especially with young children, pregnant women and the elderly.

It is particularly important to keep physical distance and avoid crowded places because of the easy transmission of respiratory viruses by sneezing and coughing.