site.btaUPDATED Flu Epidemic Measures in Effect in Plovdiv Region January 28 - February 6

A flu epidemic has been declared in Plovdiv Region, effective from January 28 to February 6, Regional Governor Hristina Yancheva said Monday after a meeting of the Regional Staff convened in connection with the epidemiological situation. Pupils will switch to online learning. 

The incidence rate to date is 225 per 10,000 people, said Dr. Argir Argirov, Director of the Regional Health Inspectorate. More than 780 per 10,000 children aged 0 to 4 are ill, which is the most affected group. The least affected group is those over 65 years of age. Dr. Argirov specified that as at Monday, hospitals have free beds.

Under the anti-epidemic measures, visits to hospitals and specialized institutions providing social services are suspended. All preventive examinations, mandatory immunizations, and re-immunizations performed by general practitioners are suspended. Mixing of groups and joint activities with other groups in childcare facilities are not allowed. Face-to-face classes are suspended, as are all group and extracurricular activities and interest-based activities, workshops, excursions, sports festivals, and others organized by schools for all age groups, preparatory groups in schools, and personal development centres for special educational support. Exceptions to the bans are school competitions and vocational competitions in schools scheduled for the period of the epidemic.

A flu epidemic has already been declared in Dobrich, Varna, and Burgas regions.

The flu epidemic in Dobrich has been lifted, the Ministry of Health announced on its website on Monday.