Sharp increase in whooping cough cases in Bulgaria. Is epidemic imminent?

After the tragic news of the death of two babies in Kyustendil on Friday, April 19, the Chief State Health Inspector Assoc. Prof. Angel Kunchev warned of a whooping cough epidemic in the country. Over 200 cases of pertussis have been registered since the beginning of the year, compared to just 4 in 2023.

Two babies died of whooping cough in Kyustendil

Doctors are calling for setting up a working group to discuss vaccination against pertussis (whooping cough) in pregnant women. They cited the practice in Western European countries as an example.

Currently, in Bulgaria, immunisation begins in babies when they are more than 2 months old and so newborns are most at risk of getting sick. The medical specialists also propose the introduction of re-immunisation in adults.

The country has seen a serious increase in the number of pertussis cases in recent months, compared to only 4 cases in the whole of last year, and 280 cases since January. Two babies died last week.

"In many Western European countries, pregnant women in the last trimester of their pregnancy are vaccinated against pertussis. This ensures transplacental transmission of antibodies from the mother to the fetus and protects the baby during those 2 months after birth when it is at risk of infection. In Bulgaria, this is not yet happening and I very much hope that a working group will be formed and this decision will be discussed. It is good to consider a booster every 10 years in adult patients, as among them there are also healthy carriers, who do not exhibit signs or symptoms of the disease, but yet are capable of infecting others, as is the case with diphtheria and tetanus vaccines," explained Dr. Natalia Gabrovska, Deputy Head of the Pediatric Pulmonology Clinic at the Hospital "Prof. Ivan Mitev" - Sofia.

The classical course of pertussis does not lead to lasting consequences, infectious disease specialist Dr. Trifon Valkov told BNT morning programme "The Day Begins" on April 22.

According to data of the German health system, between 70 - 75% of hospitalised children with a proven diagnosis of pertussis have clinical evidence of pneumonia. About 5% of cases end up with a more severe form of encephalopathy," he said.

According to Dr. Valkov, a person can become an asymptomatic carrier of pertussis. Quarantine of contact persons is therefore necessary.

Head of NCIPD: There is a risk of pertussis epidemic in the coming weeks