The Bulgarian Health Ministry has confirmed that the total number of H1N1 affected in the country currently stands at 68. More than 500 were "suspected" cases which underwent medical examination but were subsequently revealed as negative.

The vast majority of cases in Bulgaria stem from travels abroad, to the United States and the United Kingdom in particular.

According to doctor Mira Kozhuharova, regional consultant for epidemic diseases at the Health Ministry, "this winter season the country may be subjected to two flu pandemics, spreading in parallel among the population".

"There is a possibility that one of them could be more prominent than the other. But for the moment it is still too early to tell which flu will be most active," she said, quoted by the Focus news agency.

Kozhurarova was referring to the H1N1 strain and the traditional seasonal flu expected to hit the country in October. For the moment the health ministry is not reporting a sharp increase in cases of seasonal flu, which is traditionally most active from the end of October until mid March.

"Although in the winter of 2008 there was no significant seasonal flu outbreak, this time around it could begin earlier and on a larger scale," said Kozhuharova.

Children aged between six months and three years can be inoculated against the seasonal flu, by being administered half a dose bimonthly. For children aged between three and nine, the immunisation is also bimonthly but they will be subjected to the full dosage.