Information was provided on the epidemiological situation of pertussis in Uzbekistan

News about the outbreak of whooping cough in Uzbekistan spread on social networks. Nurmat Otabekov, the deputy chairman of the sanitary-epidemiological peace and public health committee, said that there is no reason to worry about this disease in the country.

According to the expert, whooping cough is a highly infectious disease transmitted by airborne droplets, the causative agent of which is the bacterium Bordetellapertussis, and patients suffering from it have symptoms of acute respiratory viral infections, as well as severe cough. seizures and vomiting are observed. This disease is mainly diagnosed in young children and adolescents, but it can also be found in adults.

"Now we inform you that the epidemiological situation in this regard in our country is stable and there is no reason to worry, as well as that this disease will be cured without any complications," said Nurmat Otabekov.

It is noted that according to the national vaccination calendar in Uzbekistan, babies are vaccinated 3 times with pentavalent vaccine (against pertussis, diphtheria, tetanus, hepatitis B and XIB infections) at the age of 2, 3 and 4 months. After a year, i.e. at the age of 16 months, revaccination with AKDS-4 is performed.

In the past period of 2023, a total of about 2 million children in Uzbekistan received a vaccine against this disease. In particular, 97.6 percent of children who should be vaccinated with penta-1, 98.5 percent with penta-2, and 98.5 percent with penta-3 were vaccinated during January-August. In addition, 98.9% of 16-month-old boys and girls were revaccinated during the revaccination phase.

"It should be said that pertussis is seasonal, it can be recorded more in autumn and winter, and in most cases it is those who are not vaccinated (medical restriction and refusal), those who have not received the full course of vaccination, and in some cases, those who are not vaccinated. then it is observed in children who have not developed immunity (seroamniotic).

In short, the risk of spreading the disease remains among unvaccinated boys and girls. Therefore, it is natural that pertussis is recorded among the population, although it is small in number," says Nurmat Otabekov.

He said that this disease can be overcome only by building collective immunity. For this, it is necessary to vaccinate young children according to the National Vaccination Calendar.

Source: Daryo.uz