Children infected with whooping cough in the first days have no symptoms, and if the school authorities consider, in agreement with the health inspections, they may organize online training. This is what the chief state health inspector Assoc. Angel Kunchev told journalists in response to a question about whether it is possible to quarantine classes or entire schools.
Prof. Kunchev participated in a seminar dedicated to vaccines, within the framework of the celebration of the European Immunization Week, reports BTA.
The whooping cough epidemic was not unexpected for the country, he also said and pointed out that, according to him, there are two to three thousand people infected with the disease. Recommendations from the National Expert Council on Immunizations are expected tomorrow regarding the proposal that the first immunization of babies against whooping cough be carried out at the age of one and a half months after birth.
According to him, the pertussis vaccine is administered in this way in other European countries as well. If a pregnant woman is vaccinated against whooping cough, she will pass on antibodies to the baby, he added.
Infection with whooping cough will affect thousands of children, predicted Prof. Kunchev. Whooping cough is a known disease, the death rate is within 1-2%, but in the current situation, the big risk is for young children, he added.
In his words, “the scary thing is for children up to the age of one, especially for babies who have not reached the age of two months. Efforts should be directed to the babies”.
The upcoming vacation would reduce the spread of the disease, said Prof. Kunchev.
The expert pointed out that 60% of all whooping cough patients in Europe are immunized. According to him, the vaccinated pass through the disease much more easily compared to non-immunized people.
Tags: Prof Kunchev whooping cough school authorities decide switch online education
