Poligraff.NET – Four children from Burgas have been diagnosed with whooping cough

Four new children from Burgas have been diagnosed with whooping cough, the Regional Health Inspectorate announced. With them, the registered cases of the infectious disease in the district from the beginning of the year until now become a total of ten.

“The positive results of the four children were confirmed by laboratories in the city on Friday afternoon. Today, the colleagues from the epidemiological studies will specify which doctor examined the children, who should issue a quick notification,” said Dr. Miroslava Kiselkova – head of the “Anti-epidemic control” department at the RZI. In order to officially enter the statistics of newly registered cases, a quick notification from the laboratory of a confirmed result and from a specialist who diagnosed the disease must be received. This is expected to happen tomorrow.

Five of the other six cases in Burgas are again children.

“We have a registered child who is under one year old but has three doses of pertussis immunization for the age. At the same time, we also have two cases of 9-year-old children, one of which – a girl from Burgas does not have a single immunization against the disease,” said Dr. Kiselkova.

Among the infected are students aged 13 and 17, as well as a 62-year-old man whose immunization status is unclear.

There is no connection between the cases, it is believed that the infection occurred through asymptomatic carriers. Contact persons are monitored for 14 days, explained Dr. Kiselkova. During this time, their vaccinations are checked and if there are gaps, the doses are made up.

Immunization scheme for children in Bulgaria against whooping cough includes immunization with 6-valent vaccine at 2, 3 and 4 months. After that, 5-valent vaccine is given to children at 2 years of age, 4-valent at 6 years of age and the last immunization with 3-valent vaccine is given at 12 years of age.

Health authorities are appealing for regular immunizations of children to prevent the spread of cases.

Source: BNR-Burgas