Health authorities in Bulgaria discuss measures to prevent possible spread of monkeypox

Health authorities in Bulgaria are discussing measures to prevent possible spread of monkeypox.

The proposals include 21 days of quarantine of the infected and their contacts.

The National Centre for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases (NCIPD) has issued guidelines to doctors. If any sypmtoms lead to suspicions of the disease, they should take a sample from the affected area and send it for examination to NCIPD.

They explained that there is no risk of an epidemic. Monkeypox is relatively mild, with most people recovering in 2-3 weeks. Mortality rate is not high.

Prophylaxis will be done to the risk groups, including health care workers, who may be in contact with monkeypox patiients or contact persons and so on, said Prof. Iva Hristova - director of the National Centre for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases.

The smallpox vaccine is 85% effective against monkeypox. It was used in the country until 1980. Bulgaria has no stocks of the vaccine, but if the virus spreads massively in the country it is possible to resort to immunisation against smallpox of the risk groups.