In week 3 (15.01.2024-21.01.2024), the level of intensity of the epidemic process of influenza and acute respiratory diseases (ARD) increased compared to the previous week, with an overall incidence of 159.38 per 10 000 people (148.89 per 10 000 people for the previous week). Among the total 364,092 persons of all age groups monitored in the 3rd week of 2024, 5,803 cases of ARI were recorded (previous week 5,421). The incidence in the age group 0-4 years was 607.28 followed by the age group 5-14 years (506.31).

The average incidence of ARI and influenza in the country continues to increase but with different levels of incidence in different cities of the country. Burgas, Veliko Tarnovo, Gabrovo, Dobrich, Kyustendil, Pazardzhik, Pernik, Pleven, Sliven, Targovishte, Haskovo and Yambol have high incidence rates. Varna, Plovdiv, Smolyan and Sofia districts have high epidemic values.

The national reference laboratory tested 623 samples, of which 167 were found to contain influenza A viruses (31 samples contained influenza A/H3N2 virus, 136 samples contained influenza A/H1N1 (2009) viruses and 1 sample contained influenza B/Victoria virus. No influenza viruses were demonstrated in samples from children under 5 years of age, but RSV(12), PIV(5), AdV(4) and other viruses(20) were isolated.