54 cases of whooping cough (pertussis) including two fatalities have been recorded in Greece since the beginning of 2024.
According to data from the National Public Health Organization (EODY), infected have been 32 children among them 11 infants under the age of one, and 22 adolescents.
Recorded have been also two deaths, one in an adult with underlying diseases and one in a newborn.
Alternate Minister of Health Eirini Agapidaki issued a circular providing detailed vaccination recommendations for pertussis, as advised by the National Vaccination Committee.
Pertussis is an highly contagious and acute microbial respiratory infection, with an 80% secondary infection rate among infected individuals.
Transmission from person to person occurs through droplets or direct contact with secretions from the respiratory system of infected individuals.
An increase in pertussis (whooping cough) cases has been recorded in recent months in several European countries including Greece, EODY reported.
