Over 50% is the jump in the number of people infected with whooping cough in our country in the last week (OVERVIEW)

The week began with a new, significant increase in the number of people infected with whooping cough in our country. In the last week, confirmed cases have jumped by more than 50%. Children lined up with their parents to be examined, and the issue of vaccination for pregnant women was also on the agenda.

Last week, 112 new cases of whooping cough were confirmed in the laboratory, making their total number 317. For the same period last year, they were only 4. Two out of every three cases were established in Sofia, according to the data of the National Center for Infectious Diseases and parasitic diseases. The predictions of the experts there are that the curve may continue upwards to 1000 cases in the next 1-2 months. However, the process can be stopped. Specialists place the main focus on vaccination between the 6th and 9th months of pregnancy. This, according to obstetricians and gynecologists and pediatricians, is the best shield for the most risky group – that of newborns.

Prof. Kantarjiev on whooping cough: People, vaccinate your children!

From early in the morning, there was a queue at the Center for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases. Vladimir and his son Ventsislav are waiting for a PCR test. The child’s GP sent them because of the boom in the infection. There are no proven cases of whooping cough in Ventsislav’s kindergarten, and the father’s hopes are that other parents have also taken a responsible approach to the mandatory immunization against the disease.

Only today at the National Center for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases more than 100 people with suspected whooping cough were examined. All of them were mostly in infancy. “Three weeks in a row it was 11 to 16-year-olds. Many of them came out positive”, said Assoc. Prof. Victoria Levterova from the NCZPB.

In addition to the confirmed cases, there is also a hidden morbidity, which is mostly among adults, according to the data from the studies carried out at the Center. From there they also give a specific example: “The baby was quite sick and they admitted him to the hospital after we confirmed that he had whooping cough. Next, we surveyed the parents. They also turned out to be positive. The baby is now fine,” said Prof. Levterova.

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Obstetricians and gynecologists recommend that women who are pregnant in the third trimester also get the vaccine. The goal – to provide antibodies to newborns in the first two months until reaching vaccine age. “We have a lot of inquiries and now the problem is where to get vaccinated. From a conversation with HEI, we understood that pregnant women should be directed to their jeeps”, explained obstetrician-gynecologist at II SAGBAL “Sheynovo” Dr. Latina Kojuharova.

However, general practitioners share that despite the many calls from their pregnant patients, according to the immunization calendar, the last sixth booster dose against whooping cough is given at the age of 12. “We don’t have a vaccine that has the pertussis component in it. At the age of 25-35, TETADIF is given every 10 years – a vaccine against tetanus and diphtheria”, explained general practitioner Dr. Todor Todorov. So for adults, the solution is at the pharmacy and then back to their GP’s office. Dr. Todorov has contacted the immunization office of SRZI. From there they said that a vaccine can be bought in the pharmacy network.

Two babies are the first victims of whooping cough in our country

A NOVA check showed that the 6-valent vaccine, which also covers whooping cough and is usually administered at age 12, was available until 2 days ago. “Demand has increased significantly. Before that, there was almost no demand for this vaccine, and we ran out of it. I also checked with the distributors – there were none. It can be used in children over 4 years old and in adults. It can be applied in the last trimester of pregnancy. It is also used as a booster every 10 years in the elderly,” said Nikolay Kostov from the Association of Pharmacy Owners.

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