Bulgaria's Chief Epidemiologist, Dr. Angel Kunchev, has stated that 634 cases of swine flu have been positively identified with a total of 1673 cases being tested.

Kunchev stated that “from a medical standpoint there is no sense of mass tests for influenza A (H1N1), since 90% of cases are of this virus.” He added that tens of thousands of people are suffering from swine flu and there is no other major virus in circulation.

Kunchev concluded that testing for the A (H1N1) virus can be done at the direction of a GP at and only takes place in the National Reference Laboratory for Influenza and acute respiratory diseases at the National Center of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases.

The Bulgaria Ministry of Health stated Tuesday that 260 out of every 10 000 people in Bulgaria are currently suffering from swine flu.

The Ministry added that over 4 500 cases of flu or acute respiratory illnesses have been registered over the last week.

As the number of patients with A(H1N1) is steadily rising, the Ministry announced a national swine flu epidemic emergency, starting from Monday.

All schools in Bulgaria have been shut down and will be in a swine flu break November 9-16. Authorities have recommended limiting the number and scope of public events.

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