Bulgaria: suspected gastrointestinal virus outbreak in Bansko

Bulgarian health authorities are trying to identify the source of an outbreak of acute gastrointestinal illness in the municipality of Bansko. Several residents have reported similar symptoms and sought help from their general practitioners. The high number of affected people has spread fears of water contamination in the region. However, Professor Todor Kantardzhiev, former head of the National Center for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, pointed out that when many people are affected simultaneously, the more likely cause of the outbreak is viral rather than bacterial. According to Kantardzhiev, the potentially involved virus spreads easily and can persist in the human body for weeks or even months. He recommended drinking a homemade solution made from one liter of water mixed with a tablespoon of salt, a teaspoon of baking soda, and the juice of two oranges to prevent dehydration during the illness.
Professor Kantardzhiev does not deny that water quality could play a key role in the spread of the disease. To reduce the risk of infection, he suggested consuming only bottled or verified safe drinking water. Bansko residents should also practice tighter personal hygiene, washing hands frequently and avoiding grassy areas where ticks may pose an additional health risk.