There is already an epidemic of whooping cough in our country, but an emergency epidemic situation will not be declared, the chief state health inspector Assoc. Angel Kunchev announced for BNR.
According to him, there are confirmed cases of the infection in 21 regions of the country.
At today’s meeting of the Council of Ministers, measures will be presented to limit the spread of the disease and to protect the most vulnerable groups.
With changes to the ordinance on immunizations, the health ministry will allow the first vaccination against whooping cough to be given on the 45th day after the birth of the baby and will list as recommended the immunization of pregnant women against the infection.
The opportunities for free diagnostics will also be expanded – in addition to the National Center for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases and the capital RZI, tests for the presence of whooping cough will be carried out in laboratories at the university hospitals in Plovdiv, Varna, Pleven and Stara Zagora, explained Associate Professor Angel Kunchev .
Testing will be free for certain groups of patients.
As announced at the beginning of the week, in cases of sick children at school, the principal will consider how to isolate the relevant class. An option is to switch to online training for two weeks.
