While there is no flu epidemic in Bulgaria and the country could escape the usual malaise even in February, other infectious respiratory diseases are about and people should know how to protect their health.
This was said at a news conference on Tuesday, where Angel Galabov, virology professor and president of the Bulgarian Microbiological Society, spoke about symptoms, prevention and treatment of winter ailments.
“The winter season of 2001-2002 is calmer compared to last year’s season,” Galabov said.
Data from local hygiene and epidemiology centres across the country showed there was no epidemic.
Galabov said that the vaccination campaign last year was successful.
More than 80 per cent of adults who took the vaccine did not get flu.
Among elderly people, the rate was about 60 per cent because of their weaker immune systems.
Currently the epidemiology centres have sufficient stocks of the most popular vaccines, the British Influvac and the French Vaxigrip. A shot costs about 11 to 13 leva.
Two shots a month apart have to be injected in children because their immune system is slower in producing antibodies. It takes about 20 days for an adult’s immune system to produce antibodies.
Galabov said that other respiratory diseases might appear in this 20-day period. However, a flu vaccine is a good guarantee that the more serious disease will be prevented or the patient will have a lighter form of it.
The typical flu infection starts with fever, muscular pains, headache and general fatigue. Galabov recommended that ill people stay at home, not only because of the danger of infecting colleagues, but also because of the serious complications that could follow.
“The flu virus is very contagious,” Galabov said.
The traditional treatment includes immunity modulators and antioxidants such as vitamins E and C. Antibiotics should be taken only after a prescription and should never be used for prophylaxis.
Galabov warned about other respiratory diseases and said that the common cold, innocuous as it may seem, could result in chronic sinusitis and bronchitis if not thoroughly treated in early childhood.
Common cold viruses are transmitted not only by air, but also by touching objects, which is why washing hands with anti-bacterial soaps can help prevent the illness, Galabov said.
This was said at a news conference on Tuesday, where Angel Galabov, virology professor and president of the Bulgarian Microbiological Society, spoke about symptoms, prevention and treatment of winter ailments.
“The winter season of 2001-2002 is calmer compared to last year’s season,” Galabov said.
Data from local hygiene and epidemiology centres across the country showed there was no epidemic.
Galabov said that the vaccination campaign last year was successful.
More than 80 per cent of adults who took the vaccine did not get flu.
Among elderly people, the rate was about 60 per cent because of their weaker immune systems.
Currently the epidemiology centres have sufficient stocks of the most popular vaccines, the British Influvac and the French Vaxigrip. A shot costs about 11 to 13 leva.
Two shots a month apart have to be injected in children because their immune system is slower in producing antibodies. It takes about 20 days for an adult’s immune system to produce antibodies.
Galabov said that other respiratory diseases might appear in this 20-day period. However, a flu vaccine is a good guarantee that the more serious disease will be prevented or the patient will have a lighter form of it.
The typical flu infection starts with fever, muscular pains, headache and general fatigue. Galabov recommended that ill people stay at home, not only because of the danger of infecting colleagues, but also because of the serious complications that could follow.
“The flu virus is very contagious,” Galabov said.
The traditional treatment includes immunity modulators and antioxidants such as vitamins E and C. Antibiotics should be taken only after a prescription and should never be used for prophylaxis.
Galabov warned about other respiratory diseases and said that the common cold, innocuous as it may seem, could result in chronic sinusitis and bronchitis if not thoroughly treated in early childhood.
Common cold viruses are transmitted not only by air, but also by touching objects, which is why washing hands with anti-bacterial soaps can help prevent the illness, Galabov said.
