National Centre for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases

The analysis of 394 clinical samples sent to the National Centre for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases for sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 show that in 389 samples or 98.7% the Delta variant has been detected, the Ministry of Health has announced. The Alpha variant of the virus was found in the remaining 5 or 1.3% of the samples.

Out of 85 samples tested at the National Centre for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases (NCIPD), the Delta variant of Covid-19 was identified in 84 (99%). The Alpha variant was detected in 1 of the sequenced samples.

The samples were taken from Covid-19 patients in 26 medical establishments from 18 districts in the country in the period 8-28 July 2021.

UK coronavirus variant is still the dominant variant in Bulgaria. The Delta variant is still gaining momentum. At the moment the situation in the country is calm, but in a month and a half the Delta variant is expected to be the dominant one, Prof. Iva Hristova, director of the National Centre for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, told BNT breakfast programme, "The Day Begins" on July 19.

There will be free vaccination posts or so called  "green corridors"  for vaccinations against Covid-19 in public parks and shopping malls in Bulgaria's capital Sofia on June 26 and 27.

The opportunity for administering Covid-19 jabs in outdoor spaces at places convenient to the members of the public is at the initiative of Sofia Municipality and Sofia Regional Health Inspectorate.

Caretaker Minister of Health, Dr. Stoycho Katsarov, assigned the National Centre for Public Health and Analysis (NCPHA), within 30 days, to perform an analysis of the activities related to public health services in the period from March 1, 2020 to May 31, 2021, in the context of the epidemic caused by SARS-CoV-2.

More Contagious Mutation of British Coronavirus Strain Detected in Bulgaria

For the first time in Bulgaria, a UK variant of the coronavirus with a mutation similar to the Brazilian one was detected, the director of the National Center for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases Prof. Todor Kantardzhiev told BNT on May 20.

Twenty-five out of the 28 districts in Bulgaria are Covid-19 "red zones", meaning an infection rate of 120 or higher out of 100 000 population, according to a report by the National Centre for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases for the 14-day period ending May 9.

The decision on tightening the anti-epidemic measures will be taken on March 17

On 15 August, the reference laboratory for tick-borne infections at the National Centre for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases confirmed two cases of West Nile fever, said the Ministry of Health.

Bulgaria is ranked highest in Europe in terms of consumption of the most massive groups of antibiotics. Because of their frequent use in hospital and outpatient care, Bulgaria sees the highest resistance to this group of medicines. This means that treatment with some patients is ineffective, reports BNT.