Microbiology

An outbreak of Q fever has been registered in Gabrovo. This was announced at the briefing on coronavirus by the national health inspector Prof. Todor Kantardzhiev. 

More than 20 people in the area tested positive for Q fever and were initially tested for coronavirus.

Turkey will begin animal testing next week in its effort to develop an anti-serum to tackle the novel coronavirus pandemic, a senior official announced on May 15. 

Greek consumers will be able to buy up to three packages of antiseptic gel or alcohol solution from retail stores as of Friday, according to a joint decision by the ministries of development and health issued on Thursday.

Although today is the last day of the state of emergency declared on 13 March, some of the measures taken to limit the spread of the coronavirus remain in force after its end.   The requirement to keep social distance and to wear protective equipment in public transport and indoors remains in force. In case of non-compliance with these measures, the fine is from BGN 300 to BGN 1,000.

Greek health and civil protection authorities have launched an operation for widespread testing and contact tracing in an area in central Greece where an outbreak of coronavirus infections have been detected.

Two migrants who reached the northeastern island of Lesvos on May 6 have tested positive for coronavirus, according to sources.

The new patients are residing in a camp in Megales Thermes, where new arrivals remain in quarantine for 14 days as part of the measures to contain the spread of the virus on the island.

A second migrant facility in Greece has entered quarantine after a resident tested positive for coronavirus.

It comes three days after a similar facility, where 23 asylum seekers were found to be infected, was put under quarantine.

In the latest case, a 53-year-old Afghan man staying at Malakasa camp along with hundreds of other people was confirmed to have the virus.

Vidin in Bulgaria's economically depressed north-west has seen a rise in recent COVID-19 cases, with the local hospital and a Roma neighbourhood being the worst affected.

Following the lifting of the current state of emergency, the introduction or lifting of anti-epidemic measures will depend on coronavirus infection statistics. This was stated in an interview with BNR by the Minister of Health Kiril Ananiev.

Three members of the White House coronavirus task force, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, placed themselves in quarantine after contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19, another stark reminder that not even one of the nation's most secure buildings is immune from the virus.