Based on confirmed 707 cases of West Nile fever in 2023 year in the member countries of the European Union (according to data of the European center for prevention and control of diseases - ECDC), and also in connection with the cases in neighboring countries of Bulgaria : Romania (103), Greece (162), Serbia (91), North Macedonia (2), Bulgarian Drug Agency as a Competent authority in area of blood as well as in relation to the oversight of activities of medical institutions in the collection, diagnosis, processing, storage, use, distribution, quality and safety assurance of blood and blood components and in relation to transfusion supervision, according to Art. 38 of the Blood, Blood Donation and Blood Transfusion Act, consider the set up of the following measures as indispensable:
1.Strengthen surveillance of donor selection through extensive clinical examination and interviews, and especially for the residents and visitors of the affected areas and areas with high risk of mosquito bites - rivers, lakes, reservoirs.
2. Maintaining contact with clinics for neurological diseases and regional health inspectorates in order to obtain timely information on the number of cases of viral meningitis or encephalitis. The raising frequency of such clinical cases should sharpen the attention of doctors performing the selection of blood donors.
3.Increasing awareness of the staff in blood establishments and blood banks and especially in the regions along Danube river and West border region along Struma river.
4.The donors will be required to inform blood establishmets and blood banks, if within a period of 15 days after donation he/she found the appearance of a febrile episodes or skin rash.
5.Temporary deferral of potential donors doubtful for disease for 28 days after leaving the areas with high risk of mosquito bites - rivers, lakes, reservoirs or flu-like symptoms pass away. ( for the period between May and October ), unless an individual WNV Nucleic Acid Test (NAT) is negative.
The measures will be in force between May and October 2024.
