Rise in whooping cough cases in Bulgaria

A rise in whooping cough infections has been registered in Bulgaria. In a month and a half, 9 cases have been officially confirmed. And for the whole year 2023, the cases were 26.

In addition to unvaccinated infants and children, pertussis has also been confirmed in people at the age of 18 and 40. The last immunization against the disease was at the age of 12. And the immunity it provides is for about 10 years.

Two of the officially confirmed whooping cough cases are from Dr. Goncharov's practice. Infection in an unvaccinated 2-month-old infant and a 15-year-old girl who had missed the last immunization at the age of 12 passed without complications.

"In infants, especially up to 3 months old - up to 3, 4% of them can have fatal complications and they are mainly pulmonary. One may develop pneumonia which can be very severe, or dehydration and respiratory failure," said Dr. Andrei Goncharov, a pediatrician at Lozenets University Hospital.

Pertussis is not easy for doctors to recognise.

"It becomes easier to recognize when it enters the stage known to most people as "whooping cough". Patients begin coughing loudly, incessantly, with urges to vomit," Dr. Goncharov explained.

The diagnosis of pertussis is made after a test that is not paid for by the Health Insurance Fund. The National Centre for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases tests samples sent by hospitals across the country.

"People who have been vaccinated, may still get pertussis, but usually experience shorter duration of the cough and less frequent coughing fits. Because not everyone can build up a good immune defence. Re-vaccinations are recommended, and some miss those re-vaccinations. In Bulgaria, the last pertussis revaccination was at the age of 12," said Assoc. Prof. Viktoria Lefterova, head of the Microbiology Department at the National Centre for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases.

"Immunization does not induce life-long immunity against subsequent infection. In ten year, immunity weakens significantly and you can get sick," said prof. Todor Kantardzhiev - epidemiologist.

In some countries, families expecting a child are immunised against pertussis to protect them from possible infection. Otherwise, in Bulgaria, those who are ill are subject to compulsory quarantine, and immunization is recommended for their contacts. The health ministry did not answer BNT question about whether there will be measures for the public health management of the infection.