SOFIA, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Bulgarian health officials voiced concern here on Wednesday about the number of confirmed cases of measles in the country and called on those who have not received vaccination to do it urgently.
Dr. Angel Kunchev, chief state health inspector, said at a press conference here that 51 cases of measles have already been confirmed in Bulgaria.
"Out of these 51 cases, only three have incomplete immunization, and the rest are not immunized," Kunchev said, adding "Currently we are at war."
The virus of the highly contagious disease that spreads through the air has been circulating in the country and it was also imported from abroad, Kunchev said.
A single person suffering from measles who meets 100 individuals not immunized against the disease would make 95 of them ill, he said, recalling that vaccination against measles is mandatory and free of charge in Bulgaria.
Prof. Todor Kantardjiev, director of the National Center of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, said that in normal circumstances the measles mortality rate was one in 1,000 cases.
However, neighboring Romania registered 11,000 measles cases in 2017 with 59 deaths.
"This scares us," Kantardjiev said.
In 2017 and 2018, Bulgaria registered 165 and 13 confirmed measles cases, respectively. In 2016 there was only one case, and zero in 2014 and 2015.
