SURVEILLANCE OF PARASITIC DISEASES IN BULGARIA

The incidence and number of cases of several parasitic diseases subject to mandatory reporting and registration under the Ministry of Health (MoH) 2005 Regulation 21 increased after the end of the global pandemic of COVID-19 in 2023. In addition, parasitic infections imported from endemic tropical regions are recorded annually in the country. A significant number of people are screened for parasitic diseases each year. The primary indication for screening is prophylactic, followed by epidemiological and clinical indications. This report aims to analyse the dynamics of parasitic diseases in 2023. Data from the periodic and annual reports of the RHI, medical institutions and NCIPD were used as inputs. In 2023, 647 781 people were tested for parasites, of whom 2.0% were diagnosed with various parasitic infections. Cystic echinococcosis increased from 89 cases in 2022 to 117 cases in 2023. The annual incidence of the disease increased from 1.3% in 2022 to 1.81% in 2023. Regarding soil-transmitted parasitic diseases, 447 people were diagnosed with ascariasis and 50 with trichuriasis. Among the 458 764 people tested, the prevalence of enterobiasis was 1.74%. Out of 1 305 suspected cases, 10 individuals were diagnosed with imported malaria. Unfortunately, the disease was fatal for one patient of Bulgarian nationality. Analysis of the data showed no discernible trend in the incidence of parasitic diseases in 2023. However, cases of cystic echinococcosis show an upward trend. For the first time, no epidemic outbreaks of trichinellosis were recorded in 2023.