Outbreak of meningitis in a kindergarten in Sofia

As of today, December 1, the in-person attendance in kindergarten №37 "Magic" in the capital's residential district of "Pavlovo" is suspended at the order of Sofia Health Inspectorate after established cases of children positive for bacterial meningitis.

On November 29, SRHI took samples from 31 children and 8 staff members who had been in contact with an infected child.

The results of the tests made by the National Centre for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases have shown that 16 children and 2 adults tested positive for Neisseria meningitidi (meningococcus). Immediately after the positive cases were identified, taking of samples from the children from the other 10 groups attending the kindergarten was arranged.

On November 30, the director of the kindergarten sent the results to each of the parents of the children that had been examined so far. The parents were provided with additional information, prepared by the consultant of Sofia Municipality, Prof. Todor Kantardzhiev.

According to experts, the presence of this microorganism in the nasopharynx does not directly endanger the health and life of children, but prophylaxis with antibiotics is applied.

Today, December 1, at the initiative of the mayor of Sofia, Yordanka Fandakova, an online meeting took place with the parents of the children and Prof. Todor Kantardzhiev, at which the parents received additional information about this type of microorganisms and guidance on the ways they should act.

At the request of parents and other groups in the kindergarten, Sofia Municipality is ready to organize additional meetings.