This year the flu will be much more widespread and there will be many more cases. This was stated in the program “Your Day” on NOVA NEWS by Prof. Iva Hristova, Director of the National Center for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases.
“The flu is progressing and this is expected. Its spread is expanding, the circulation of the flu virus is intensifying, but let's first get through the holidays and then worry. Now is the time to relax with loved ones and stay warm, because cooling the body opens the door for viruses, not only for the flu”, warned Prof. Hristova.
According to her, now is the start of the epidemic spread of the flu and we will witness rapidly rising levels of morbidity. “We have already surpassed last year's spread. This year we started with a much lower incidence compared to the same period last year, but we have reached this level and are confidently moving forward and upwards. So this year the flu will be much more widespread and there will be many more cases”.
“This has its explanation in the mutated H3N2 flu virus. It is important to be careful, to know that the flu is gaining momentum and to do everything possible to protect ourselves”, she explained.
According to her, there are currently isolated cases of COVID. “The official registration shows about 50 cases, but in our country we prove SARS-CoV-2 ten times less often than the flu virus”.
“Currently, the Pernik region is in first place in terms of flu spread by region. There are 303 cases per 10,000 in a week. Last week there were about 240. There is a serious increase, these are already epidemic levels. Gabrovo, Varna, Ruse are next, and more and more districts will join. And then they will come out in reverse order”, the expert commented.
Prof. Hristova explained that the incidence also varies by age group. “With an average for the country of 112 per 10,000, in children between 5 and 14 years old it is over 300, and in children under 5 years old it is over 400. The youngest are the most vulnerable”.
“On the other side are the elderly, who are also vulnerable. And given their underlying diseases, they often end up in hospital. Hospitalizations are leading in their cases”, she explained.