Dynamic of SARS-CoV-2 spread in Bulgaria, 2020-2022

Authors

  • Iveta Madzharova National Reference Laboratory “Influenza and ARD”, National Centre of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Sofia Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1965-7550
  • Ivelina Tifonova National Reference Laboratory “Influenza and ARD”, National Centre of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases Author
  • Veselin Dobrinov National Reference Laboratory “Influenza and ARD”, National Centre of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Sofia Author
  • Iliyana Grigorova National Reference Laboratory “Influenza and ARD”, National Centre of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Sofia Author
  • Ivailo Alexiev National Reference Laboratory “Influenza and ARD”, National Centre of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Sofia Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3186-1124
  • Lubomira Grigorova National Reference Laboratory “Influenza and ARD”, National Centre of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Sofia Author
  • Reneta Dimitrova National Reference Laboratory “Influenza and ARD”, National Centre of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Sofia Author https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7711-6798
  • Ivan Ivanov National Reference Laboratory “Influenza and ARD”, National Centre of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Sofia Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2616-894X
  • Ivan Stoikov National Reference Laboratory “Influenza and ARD”, National Centre of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Sofia Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9924-8553
  • Deyan Donchev National Reference Laboratory “Influenza and ARD”, National Centre of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Sofia Author https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7447-7627
  • Neli Korsun National Reference Laboratory “Influenza and ARD”, National Centre of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Sofia Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.58395/68gqp351

Keywords:

SARS-CoV-2, respiratory viruses, COVID-19

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic is associated with high morbidity and significant mortality worldwide. The objective of this study was to track the circulation pattern of SARS-CoV-2 in Bulgaria over three consecutive years (2020-2022) and to analyze the involvement of SARS-CoV-2 in cases of co-infections. A total of 98 247 clinical samples were tested for SARS-CoV-2 using a Real-Time RT-PCR method and 25.2% of them were positive. The positive rate for SARS-CoV-2 was greater among hospitalized patients compared to outpatients (p<0.05). Approximately 48.3% of all SARS-CoV-2-positive cases were male and 51.7% were female (p<0.05). SARS-CoV-2 positivity was highest in the group of oldest adults (≥65 years) (average 40.6%), and lowest in the group of youngest children (0-5 years) (average 9.4%). Several peaks in the spread of SARS-CoV-2 infections were observed. Among the 1 463 SARS-CoV-2 positive clinical samples examined for the presence of other respiratory viruses, 109 (7.5%) cases of co-infections were found. The greatest variety of co-infections with SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses was detected during the Omicron wave. Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 is important to continue in the future in order not to miss the emergence of new genetic variants with increased infectivity, virulence or immune escape.

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Published

2023-08-14

Issue

Vol. 51 No. 1 (2023)

Section

Articles

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Copyright (c) 2023 Iveta Madzharova, Ivelina Tifonova, Veselin Dobrinov, Iliyana Grigorova, Ivailo Alexiev, Lubomira Grigorova, Reneta Dimitrova, Ivan Ivanov, Ivan Stoikov, Deyan Donchev, Neli Korsun (Author)

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

CC-BY 4.0

How to Cite

(1)
Madzharova, I.; Tifonova, I.; Dobrinov, V.; Grigorova, I.; Alexiev, I.; Grigorova, L.; Dimitrova, R.; Ivanov, I.; Stoikov, I.; Donchev, D.; Korsun, N. Dynamic of SARS-CoV-2 Spread in Bulgaria, 2020-2022. Probl Infect Parasit Dis 2023, 51 (1), 5-10. https://doi.org/10.58395/68gqp351.

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