Whooping cough cases in Sofia on the rise

According to the health inspectorate, 75 cases have been confirmed in the past 7 days. In comparison, a week earlier they were half of that number.

From the beginning of March until April 15, 56 students from 10 schools in the capital were diagnosed with pertussis. There are no classes under quarantine. Only the contacts in the class, who missed immunisation, are not going to school.

Anti-epidemic measures at the national level are not currently required, the director of the Centre for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases told BNT on April 22.

In April, four cases of pertussis were confirmed in the capital's 125th school in seventh-graders with missed immunisations.

"The children who are sick at the moment don't actually have the booster shot, which in compulsory to be administered when they turn 12," explained Mariana Peneva, a nurse at 125th “Boyan Penev” School.

As prescribed by the health inspectorate, the infected should stay at home for 2 weeks. Their contacts, who missed getting the dose of the vaccine, which was supposed to be administered when they were 12, also do not attend school for 14 days.

"Classes are not quarantined at school. Only children who have not fully completed the pertussis vaccination cycle are quarantined," Venelina Nikolova, principal of 125th “Boyan Penev” Secondary School said.

It was found that a total of 7 contacts of the infected in the two classes in the 125th school missed the booster dose.The school nurses checked the vaccination status of the children in the other classes of seventh graders.

"We are experiencing difficulties because there are these prophylaxis cards that are handed over to us without the immunisation details filled in. And then it's much more complicated," Mariana Peneva said.

Those born in 2012 and 2018 are subject to immunisation this year. The vaccine can be administered at any time, regardless of the child's date of birth.

Whooping cough have also occurred among fully vaccinated children,

The vaccine does not provide 100% protection, but it protects against severe forms of pertussis and against death," said Dr. Natalia Gabrovska - pulmonologist of the hospital "Prof. Ivan Mitev".

"Whooping cough peaks every 3 to 5 years. I'm not just talking about Bulgaria only, I'm talking about the whole of Europe, these epidemic waves of pertussis occur. Pertussis is still with us. The pertussis causative agent itself changes over time," said Dr. Trifon Valkov from the specialized hospital for active treatment infectious and parasitic diseases "Prof. Ivan Kirov".

Newborns are most at risk of severe pertussis.

"Every 2 per thousand babies are at real risk of death with this disease," noted Dr. Natalia Gabrovska.

Wearing a mask when around newborns can protect them from infection.

"Immunisation at a later age, only for people who are not vaccinated but are in close proximity to newborn children. These are the recommendations of a number of Western countries. When pregnant women are vaccinated, antibodies can actually be passed to the child. These antibodies can protect the baby in the first two months of life," said Prof. Iva Hristova - Director of the National Centre for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases.

The vaccine is safe for pregnant women. It is not free-of-charge for adults. Forecasts are that pertussis cases will continue to increase. The tests that prove the disease are not paid for by the health insurance fund.