site.btaOver 900 Pertussis Cases Registered, 133 Patients Are Hospitalized

There have been 985 cases of pertussis registered in Bulgaria between January 1 and May 13, 2024, which is up from 843 for the January 1 - May 9 period and significantly up from four cases in the same period in 2023, the Health Ministry reported for BTA on Monday. A total of 133 patients were admitted for hospital treatment, 57 of them were children under one year old. Complications caused by pertussis were registered in 25 of all infected.

According to data from the regional health inspectorates, based on epidemiological surveys of 978 patients, the highest incidence of pertussis continues to be reported in the newborns group.

By the end of the last week, 70 pregnant women had received free pertussis shots.

On May 9, temporary epidemic-control measures took effect in Bulgaria on account of the epidemic spread of pertussis. The measures will last until July 31, 2024 at the order of caretaker Health Minister Galya Kondeva. Under the measures, pregnant women will have an option to receive a single-jab combined diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus (DPT) vaccine between the 27th and 36th gestation week.