Chickenpox in Poland in 2023

Area of Science:

• Epidemiology
• Public Health
• Infectious Disease Surveillance

Background:

• Chickenpox (varicella) incidence in Poland remained relatively stable between 2016-2023, with notable decreases in 2020-2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• An increase in chickenpox cases was observed in 2022, reaching 453.9 per 100,000 population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the epidemiological status of chickenpox in Poland for the year 2023.
• To compare the 2023 chickenpox data with incidence rates from preceding years.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the National Institute of Public Health NIH - National Research Institute.
• Analyzed annual bulletins on infectious diseases and vaccinations in Poland for 2023.

Main Results:

• In 2023, 190,825 chickenpox cases were recorded, an 11.13% increase from 2022, with an overall incidence of 506.2/100,000 population.
• The highest incidence rates were observed in children aged 0-4 (4,741.4/100,000) and 5-9 years (4,155.1/100,000).
• 123,743 individuals were vaccinated against chickenpox in 2023, with 95.49% being children under 11.

Conclusions:

• The reduced rate of increase in 2023 suggests potential stabilization of chickenpox epidemiology.
• However, the incidence rate exceeding 500 per 100,000 warrants ongoing surveillance in subsequent years.