Swine influenza

Romania is facing a flu epidemic, as the flu activity has continued for the third straight epidemic week, Health Minister Sorina Pintea said on Wednesday, adding that the circulation of the influenza virus will be intense in February too.

A flu epidemic across Greece has so far claimed the lives of four people since the fall, the Center for Disease Prevention and Control (KEELPNO) said on Saturday.

Moreover, the total number of people that have so far been placed in intensive care since September is 35, with only three having been vaccinated.

In connection with the registered high morbidity in the last week (07.01 - 13.01.2019 - 264.84 persons per 10 000), as well as from the results of the tested samples of patients with acute respiratory diseases (ARD), which show presence of circulation of influenza strain A H3N2, Regional Health Inspectorate - Stara Zagora announces a flu epidemic for Stara Zagora region as of January 15th.

Sofia. The flu vaccine is underestimated in Bulgaria, considering that in developed European countries 30% to 60% of the population relies on this prevention measure, National Centre for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases Director Prof. Todor Kantardjiev told Focus Radio.

Varna. The result of the tested samples for African swine fever in the Provadia village of Tutrakantsi is positive, Focus Radio has reported from a press conference in the Varna regional administration. This is the first outbreak of African swine fever in Bulgaria.

President Klaus Iohannis demands the Government urgently adopt all measures in order to stop the high number of outbreaks of African swine fever and to compensate the affected producers as quickly as possible.

With the warmer weather, the attack of new viruses begin. This is what Professor Todor Kantardjiev, director of the National Center for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, told the Bulgarian National Television. "There are few people complaining about fever, sore throat, runny nose and coughing," he said, but firmly confirmed that no new large scale flu waves are expected.

At least 35 deaths from influenza have been reported in Croatia, but experts believe that their number is significantly higher, reports bgnes. 

Up to now, most people who died of influenza - 27 people - were registered in 2010 during the swine flu pandemic. Dr. Vladimir Drazjevovich, a virologist at the National Center for Influenza, noted that this year the flu is different.

There is now a proven case of influenza from the Hong Kong strain - a woman in Rousse. The flu runs very hard, doctors say. Apart from this, many viruses fill the doctors' offices, Nova TV reports

New flu epidemic is expected to occur in Bulgaria by the end of the year, probably in November or December, NOVA informs.