EBOLA – IS THERE A THREAT TO BULGARIA?

Can Ebola become pandemic? Are there real risks the virus to reach Bulgaria? Doctor Angel Kunchev, Bulgara’s chief health inspector spoke on the topic for the BNT morning programme “The Day Begins” on 10th of October.

“Ebola is a real threat not only for Africa, but for the whole world”, doctor Kunchev said, but stressed that Ebola threat is not imminent for Bulgaria. “For the time being, we are somehow protected because of the relatively weak ties we have with the affected countries – Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Two neighbouring countries in Africa – Nigeria and Cameroon – managed to put the epidemic under control, which shows that effective anti-epidemic measures lead to adequate solution”, he said.

Ebola outbreak killed over 3 800 people in Africa, reached Europe and the United states with several cases, which has made the health authorities more vigilant and alert.

“The preparedness of the health authorities in Bulgaria is key to the problem, but it is a function of the healthcare system”, said the chief health inspector. “We all know what the situation with the healthcare system in Bulgaria is and how hospitals, oversight authorities and epidemiologists suffer from insufficient financing”, he remarked.

“The measures against Ebola are effective when the system can identify the case early, isolate it and place the people who were in contact with the infected person under monitoring. This is the key”, said doctor Kunchev. What we are trying to do is to always be attentive, especially regarding people who travelled to Africa, even if they did not go to Ebola hit countries, to interview them to find out if they were in contact with people who had symptoms and to be isolated and placed under monitoring in case of suspicion for Ebola”, the doctor explained.

Is it flu or is it Ebola? “The symptoms are similar: high temperature, cough, sore throat. The developed definition includes these symptoms plus obligatory arrival from a country affected by Ebola or contact with infected person”, doctor Kunchev emphasized.