843 cases of whooping cough registered in the country, health minister says

843 cases of pertussis have been registered in the country, caretaker Health Minister Dr Galya Kondeva said on May 8. The temporary anti-epidemic measures have been published, including the establishment of an organisation for recommended immunisation of pregnant women.

"Currently, 843 cases of pertussis have been registered in the country. The update of the immunization schedule was promulgated in the State Gazette yesterday. It has been made possible for the compulsory basic immunisation including pertussis and for the due basic immunisation against pneumococcus to be given from the age of 6 weeks. Temporary anti-epidemic measures are introduced, including the establishment of an organisation for recommended immunisation of pregnant women at 27-36 weeks of gestation. An information campaign on this recommended pertussis immunisation has been launched. It is a one-off and optional. It will be carried out in all 28 districts of the cuntry. There is an interactive map on the ministry's website which indicates the districts, vaccination sites and contact numbers," Kondeva said.

"All the measures we had planned and promised are in place. The situation is developing as expected. There are 100 fewer cases registered than last week, but this does not mean that the epidemic is over, on the contrary. It is just that the bank holidays made their contribution. A rapid risk assessment has been obtained from the European Centre for Diseases in Stockholm. The epidemic in Europe continues to develop at an accelerated pace. Last year, 25 000 cases were recorded in the EU, and 32 000 in the first quarter of 2024. The risk is high for babies younger than 1 year old, the unimmunised or the incompletely immunised. The document ends with three recommendations that are exactly like ours. Achieving timely and complete immunization in newborns, immunize pregnant women, intensive monitoring, contact tracing and treatment," said Chief State Health Inspector, Assoc. Prof. Angel Kunchev.