Flu Epidemic to Overtake Entire Bulgaria

January 25, 2011, Tuesday

There is a strong possibility a flu epidemic would b declared for the entire country by the end of the week, the Head of the "Monitoring of Contagious Diseases" Department at the Bulgarian Health Ministry, Dr. Angel Kunchev, informs.

Currently, the Regions of Burgas, Vratsa, Shumen, Blagoevgrad, Veliko Tarnovo, Pernik, Kyustendil, Sofia City, Pleven, Pazardzhik, and Targovishte, have all declared flu epidemic.

Kunchev announced that no later than Wednesday the epidemic will be declared in the Plovdiv and Kardzhali Regions.

According to the medical expert, the most important characteristic of the flu is the very fast increase of those infected and the relatively fast decrease. He advises people to seek medical help immediately and to have an X-ray.

The symptoms include strong headaches, high fever and fatigue.

According to data from the National Reference Laboratory the flue is of the A(H1N1) type virus. It can lead to pneumonia, doctors say, and warn strongly against self-medicating and taking antibiotics.

It was also announced that all schools in the municipalities of Kardzhali and Gotse Delchev are closed over the flu outbreak.