Country Workshop in Bulgaria

On 14^th and 15^th March 2014 a country workshop to discuss influenza surveillance was carried out in Hissar, Bulgaria. In the workshop participated representatives from all 28 Regional Health Inspectorates (Bulgarian Public Health Centers) – one microbiologist and one epidemiologist; Dr. Boyko Penkov – Deputy Minister of Health; Prof. Mira Kojouharova – national consultant on epidemiology and Deputy Director of National Center of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases; Dr. Angel Kunchev – Chief State Health Inspector; experts from the Ministry of Health, Department of Public Health; Dr. Valery Tzekov from BSIM (NGO) and Dr. Dora Mircheva from WHO office in Sofia.

The workshop agenda was as follows:

1. Opening speech – Dr. Boyko Penkov, Deputy Minister of Health
2.  “Surveillance and Response to Avian and Pandemic Influenza”  project in SEE countries – the Bulgarian participation – goals and challenges, Dr Angel Kunchev, CSHI and coordinator of the Project in Bulgaria
3. Influenza surveillance system in Bulgaria – Prof. Mira Kojouharova, national consultant on epidemiology and Deputy Director of National Center of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases
4. Practical details of the Surveillance system in Bulgaria and the responsibilities of the epidemiologists from RHI – Dr. Radosveta Filipova, Head of Department, Ministry of Health
5. WHO guidance for sentinel influenza surveillance in humans – Dr. Dora Mircheva, representative of the WHO office in Sofia
6. The role of the NGOs in the process of the implementation of the Influenza Surveillance system in the country – Dr. Valery Tzekov,  BSIM
7. Working groups – discussions on Annexes 3 and 4 of the WHO guidance for sentinel influenza surveillance in humans
8. Final discussions and conclusions