The health authorities: An epidemic will be declared only in individual areas, quarantine – in the affected classes

In the warehouse of the Ministry of Health (MoH) there is enough pertussis vaccines for children aged two months to two years, who are most vulnerable to the disease – this became clear from the hearing of the Acting Minister of Health, Dr. Galya Kondeva, during the extraordinary meeting of the parliamentary committee on health. Speaking to journalists afterwards, she added that if necessary, an epidemic will be declared only in individual areas. The Minister of Education completed the picture by stating that for the time being there is no need to switch to online learning for students.

The Minister of Health, Galya Kondeva, informed the deputies in the health committee, which is holding an extraordinary meeting today, that by the end of this week there is an opportunity to import new 2000 doses of pertussis vaccines, with a total of 650 currently available. Until Monday, we have good immunization coverage for whooping cough – 92.4% in the last year, added the healthy acting minister, quoted by BTA. In the event of an epidemic she said that immunization can start from the age of one and a half months of the babies.

Kondeva recalled that according to the immunization calendar total children receive six doses of pertussis vaccine during his life. No reimmunization is included for adultsshe emphasized.

Kondeva said that if necessary, the Ministry of Health can provide funds to purchase additional quantities vaccines against whooping cough.

The Minister of Health once again reiterated that the Ministry of Health is constantly monitoring the disease. Since the beginning of the year, a total of 314 positive cases of whooping cough have been registered, and the disease puts newborns at risk in the first year of their birth.

The spread is the greatest in the city of Sofia – 214 cases. No cases were reported in 11 districtsstressed Kondeva.

As for what the Ministry of Health has done so far, the Acting Minister recalled that letters of reference were sent to the regional health inspectorates, the Bulgarian Medical Union as early as the beginning of April, stating that all GPs should examine persons subject to immunization.

The minister emphasized that they are diagnostic tests providedin the Metropolitan Regional Health Inspection, as well as in the Center for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases and have been introduced criteria for what cases to do the diagnosis.

The criteria for conducting pertussis tests are as follows: “Children up to 5 years of age, presence of an epidemic situation in the area where the sample is received, first registered case in a populated place in a given area, sick children with a severe course, sick from a registered epidemic outbreak, organized children’s or school collective”.

Galya Kondeva noted that they are insured additional funds for the purchase of laboratory diagnostics for the next month, work is also being done to create conditions for carrying out the diagnostics.

“We are currently working, funds have already been allocated to provide research in other parts of the country. The research will be done in the university hospitals, tests will be able to be carried out in the other areas of the country. I guess from the beginning of next week the organization will now be able to work as the tests are currently being purchased, sent, funds provided If the doctor decides that there is no need to confirm the diagnosis, but the parents still wish to check it, this can happen in private laboratories”.

We analyze daily what the trends are, what the distribution is, assured the official minister. She also said that the Ministry of Health is in constant contact with the Ministry of Education to ensure the protection of students and the opportunity don’t panic. Kondeva drew attention to the fact that anyone sick with whooping cough must be subject to home isolation for no more than 30 days. Those not sick and not immunized are placed under medical supervision for up to 14 daysaccording to Ordinance No. 6 of 2019.

According to this ordinance when pertussis occurs in a nurserythe affected individuals are placed under surveillance for up to 14 days, with the affected group being quarantined for the same period.

Earlier today, the chief state health inspector Assoc. Angel Kunchev stated that if school authorities consider, in consultation with health inspectorates, they may organize online training.

According to the Minister of Education and Science, Prof. Galin Tsokov however, this is not necessary for now. He told journalists at the “Dr. P. Beron” secondary school in Shumen that, for now, “there are no serious problems with securing the educational process, and at this stage there are no plans to completely switch to online education.” The minister also explained:

“There will only be quarantine of individual classes in which there are sick students, but this can be done in the school itself. We have a good dialogue with the Ministry of Health – the experts there tell us that there is no need to introduce mandatory measures – such as wearing masks. It is also not mandatory to undergo training in an electronic environment”.

Ministry of Health expects the expert council to come up with an opinion on vaccination against pertussis of pregnant women.