VZCZCXRO9849
OO RUEHIK
DE RUEHSF #0584 2871358
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 141358Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY SOFIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6403
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA IMMEDIATE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS IMMEDIATE

UNCLAS SOFIA 000584 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
EUR/CE TKONDITI, OES/IHB DWINN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ASEC KFLU AEMR CASC KFLO TBIO KSAF KPAO PREL
PINR, AMGT, TF, ECON, EINV, PGOV, SOCI, AMED, BU 
SUBJECT: BULGARIA H1N1 UPDATE 
 
REF: A. STATE 044165 
     ¶B. STATE 045833 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Summary: The Ministry of Health announced 
Bulgaria's first A/H1N1 death on September 30.  A total of 78 
Bulgarians have contracted the virus thus far.  Bulgaria will 
join the European Union's initiative to buy vaccines and 
inoculate risk groups free of charge.  Last updated in March 
2008, Bulgaria's National Influenza Pandemic Preparedness 
Plan is based on EU and WHO recommendations.  End summary. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) Bulgaria's first recorded death as a result of the 
A/H1N1 virus occurred September 30.  The patient was a 
30-year old male who first showed flu-like symptoms on 
September 19.  He was admitted to a local hospital on 
September 23, where he was found to be suffering from 
bilateral pneumonia.  The patient was transferred on 
September 25 to Lozenets University Hospital for Active 
Treatment.  According to Dr. Lyubomir Spassov, Director of 
the Lozenets Hospital, the man was a drug addict, a factor 
that contributed to the lethal outcome.  According to the 
Bulgarian Ministry of Health, a total of 78 Bulgarians have 
contracted the virus thus far. 
 
¶3.  (SBU) Bulgaria has a National Influenza Pandemic 
Preparedness Plan ("the Plan"), which was last updated in 
March 2008.  The Plan was prepared in accordance with the EU 
and WHO's Global Program for Influenza Surveillance and 
Control, and is based on the current capacity of the 
Bulgarian healthcare system. The Plan will be updated and 
evaluated periodically.  The Plan has two goals.  The first 
is to organize comprehensive and timely action to limit and 
subsequently reduce the morbidity rate of pandemic influenza; 
ensure the optimal settings for treatment of infected people; 
maintain the functionality of vital public sectors and 
services, such as healthcare, security, transport, etc.; and 
ensure permanent, reliable and up-to-date public information 
on the influenza pandemic developments and the measures 
applied.  The second goal is to improve the existing system 
for monitoring and control of seasonal influenza epidemics in 
parallel with the country's preparation for possible 
pandemics, thus achieving significant reduction in morbidity, 
mortality and losses from influenza epidemics in Bulgaria. 
 
¶4.  (SBU)  The Plan calls for strengthening influenza 
surveillance, implementing a strategy for providing the 
country with vaccines and antiviral drugs in pandemic 
situations, intensifying antivirus preparations, including 
vaccinations, during the periods between pandemics; 
increasing national reserves of antiviral drugs; and further 
researching influenza epidemiology and prevention.  Bulgaria 
will support the EU common policy on A/H1N1 and will buy 
vaccines and inoculate risk groups free of charge.  Together 
with other EU member states, Bulgaria is expected to open a 
public procurement procedure for the purchase of the vaccine 
by the end of the year. 
 
¶5.  (SBU) Comment.  Bulgaria's National Influenza Pandemic 
Preparedness Plan is still applicable and appropriate to the 
A/H1N1 flu pandemic, though its latest version is a bit 
dated.  The Plan has been written so that it can respond and 
adapt to changing conditions as necessary.  Experts agree the 
Plan looks good on paper, but we will monitor whether the 
healthcare system has the financial, logistical, and 
administrative capacity to manage its practical 
implementation.  End comment. 
 
ORDWAY