Acute respiratory infections in Bulgaria have jumped in a week, from about 840 cases to 1,200, with the infection rate rising to nearly 35 cases per 10,000 people, up from about 25 a week earlier. That's according to Professor Iva Hristova, head of the National Centre for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, who spoke to state broadcaster BNT.
There's no proof yet that flu viruses are spreading widely in Bulgaria, but the centre's data show the numbers climbing steadily. "We're on the verge of flu viruses appearing now," Hristova said on the show "The Day Begins." She expects the rise to continue as the weather turns colder.
The health ministry is rolling out Bulgaria's first-ever national programme to give children free flu shots, running from 2026 to 2030. The vaccines will be free for children from 6 months old up to age 7, and up to age 17 for children with chronic illnesses. The goal is fewer severe cases, complications and deaths among the youngest patients.
The money covers more than 135,000 doses, according to BNT, though the amount actually ordered so far is around 98,000.
Among children, rhinoviruses and bocaviruses are the most common right now — they usually start with a stubborn runny nose, followed by a cough. Labs are also finding adenoviruses, linked to throat and eye infections, as well as parainfluenza viruses. So far, high fever, the hallmark of flu, isn't showing up much in sick children.
Hristova said October and November are the best months to get a flu shot. Parents tend to prefer the nasal vaccine for children because it's easier to give, but she said the injection works just as well. Pregnant women are still often hesitant, even though getting vaccinated helps pass on antibodies that protect a newborn in its first months.
Vaccination alone isn't enough if children skip proper sleep, exercise, rest and good food, she said. Parents shouldn't lean on vitamins and supplements instead of a normal diet. If a child keeps moving from one infection to the next, doctors should look for the actual cause rather than hand out drugs meant to boost the immune system without a clear reason.
Doctors warn that young children, older people and those with chronic illness are most at risk. Health officials want more people to get vaccinated before the flu season really takes hold.