Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 15, 2026
Evaluation of Host-Pathogen Responses and Vaccine Efficacy in Mice
Published on: February 22, 2019
Pertussis in Poland in 2023
Agnieszka Rumik1, Iwona Paradowska-Stankiewicz1
1Zakład Epidemiologii Chorób Zakaźnych i Nadzoru, Narodowy Instytut Zdrowia Publicznego PZH - Państwowy Instytut Badawczy.
Insights
Pertussis cases surged in Poland in 2023, with incidence rising 150% due to waning immunity and increased social contact post-pandemic. This highlights pertussis as a continuing public health concern, especially for unvaccinated infants.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
- Infectious Disease Surveillance
Background:
- Poland observed a significant rise in pertussis (whooping cough) cases in 2023, mirroring a European trend of increased respiratory illnesses post-COVID-19.
- Contributing factors include decreased population immunity, vaccination delays, and diagnostic challenges, particularly in adult and adolescent populations.
- The resurgence underscores the impact of the pandemic on routine immunization programs and disease transmission dynamics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the 2023 pertussis epidemiological landscape in Poland.
- To compare current pertussis incidence with previous years, assessing the pandemic's influence.
- To evaluate the vaccination status of children concerning pertussis.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of individual pertussis case reports from the EpiBaza system at the National Institute of Public Health NIH - National Research Institute.
- Utilization of data from annual bulletins: "Infectious diseases and poisonings in Poland" and "Vaccinations in Poland in 2023".
- Epidemiological assessment based on registered cases and vaccination records.
Main Results:
- A total of 922 pertussis cases were recorded in 2023, marking a 150% increase from 2022, with an incidence rate of 2.45 per 100,000 population.
- The highest incidence was observed in young children (0-4 years) at 17.3/100,000, followed by children aged 5-9 years (7.6/100,000).
- A significant proportion, approximately 45%, of pertussis cases occurred in individuals over 15 years of age.
Conclusions:
- Pertussis cases more than doubled in Poland in 2023, linked to the lifting of pandemic restrictions and increased social interactions.
- Pertussis remains a critical public health threat, with declining post-vaccination immunity facilitating transmission among adolescents and adults, posing a risk to infants.
- The study emphasizes the need for robust vaccination strategies and surveillance to mitigate pertussis resurgence.
Background:
In 2023, a significant increase in the number of pertussis cases was recorded in Poland, which is consistent with the trend of a resurgence of respiratory diseases observed across Europe following the COVID-19 pandemic. This increase is related to factors such as declining population immunity, delays in vaccinations, and diagnostic difficulties, particularly in adults and adolescents.
Objective:
The aim of the study was to assess the epidemiological situation of pertussis in Poland in 2023 compared to the situation in previous years, with particular emphasis on assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and assessing the vaccination status of children against pertussis.
Material And Methods:
The assessment of the epidemiological situation of pertussis in Poland was made based on the results of the analysis of individual reports on pertussis cases registered at the National Institute of Public Health NIH - National Research Institute in the EpiBaza system and data from the annual bulletins "Infectious diseases and poisonings in Poland" and the bulletin "Vaccinations in Poland in 2023".
Results:
In 2023, 922 cases of pertussis were recorded. The incidence was 2.45/100,000, which was 150% higher than in 2022. The highest incidence of pertussis occurred in children aged 0-4 years (17.3/100,000), and high in children aged 5-9 years (7.6/100,000). Approximately 45% of cases occurred in people over 15 years of age.
Conclusions:
In 2023, the number of pertussis cases in Poland increased more than 2.5-fold compared to the previous year, which is due, among other things, to the complete lifting of pandemic restrictions and an increase in social contacts. Pertussis remains a significant public health threat, and waning post-vaccination immunity promotes transmission, especially among adolescents and adults, who can infect infants.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:28Infectious Diseases and Their Occurrence
01:28Pulmonary Tuberculosis II
Here is a detailed explanation of its pathophysiology:
Transmission: The process begins when a person inhales droplet nuclei containing M. tuberculosis. These are typically released into the air when an individual with pulmonary or...
01:51Vaccinations
01:28Diphtheria
01:29Pulmonary Tuberculosis I
Causative Organism
The primary infectious agent causing tuberculosis is Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a slow-growing, acid-fast, aerobic rod that exhibits sensitivity to heat and ultraviolet light. Instances of Mycobacterium bovis and Mycobacterium avium contributing to the development of TB infection are rare.
Mode of...
01:25Transmission-based Precautions II: Airborne and Protective Environment
Airborne precautions:
Use airborne precautions when treating patients known or suspected to have diseases that spread through the air—for example, tuberculosis or measles. These organisms are present in smaller droplets expelled by an infected person and...