Since the beginning of the year, 214 positive cases of whooping cough have been registered, with newborn children at risk. The spread of the disease is greatest in the city of Sofia, and there are no registered cases in 11 districts. This was stated by the acting Minister of Health, Dr Galya Kondeva during the meeting of the Health Commission in connection with the increasing spread of whooping cough in Bulgaria.
She explained that The Ministry of Health (MOH) constantly monitors morbidity from whooping cough. The department has sent letters to the regional health inspectorates (RZI) and the Bulgarian Medical Union (BLS) with the aim of directing the attention of Bulgarian specialists to the disease – the personal doctors should review the immunization status of the persons, immunizations and re-immunizations, remove gaps and covered people who do not have the necessary vaccinations.
Diagnostic tests are provided. Criteria have been introduced for judging in which cases the diagnosis should be made. Additional funds are also provided for the purchase of laboratory diagnostic equipment. The trends and prevalence of whooping cough are analyzed daily, contact is also maintained with the Ministry of Education and Science (MES) for the health of students. There will be no panic when it is not necessary.
Anyone suffering from whooping cough must be subject to self-isolation for no more than 30 daysand those who are not sick are placed under medical control for 14 days.
The pertussis vaccine will be able to be administered earlier to babies
At the moment, the most registered cases are those under the age of 1 year
When pertussis appears in a kindergarten, nursery or school, the affected group or class is placed under quarantine, and the affected persons – under medical control for 14 days. Those who are sick should be notified with prompt notice and appropriate measures will be taken.
Vaccines are purchased by the Ministry of Health and distributed through general practitioners. All necessary vaccinations are provided. There are enough pertussis vaccines in the warehouse of the Ministry of Health for children from 2 months of age to 2 years of age. By the end of this week, another 2,000 doses of vaccines will be imported, with 750 currently available. The Ministry of Health reports good immunization coverage, with Bulgaria at 92.4%. Pertussis disease is recorded in both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals.
The reaction of the Ministry of Health to an epidemic spread of whooping cough and an extraordinary epidemiological situation
Mandatory immunizations and re-immunizations for certain groups of the population, as well as determining the order and manner different from an immunization calendar. If necessary, vaccination will be ordered for newborns two weeks before they reach 2 months of age – ie. per month and a half.
Pregnant women can also be vaccinatedso they can protect their children from whooping cough.
Two babies died after contracting whooping cough in Kyustendil
The babies were 1 month old
