Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Messages about outbreaks of whooping cough in Uzbekistan are spreading on social networks.

Deputy Chairman of the Committee for Sanitary-Epidemiological Welfare and Public Health Nurmat Atabekov told the Press Service of the Ministry of Health about this:

Whooping cough is an acute infectious disease that is transmitted by airborne droplets, says the specialist. — Its causative agent is the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. — Patients with whooping cough may experience symptoms of ARVI, as well as severe paroxysmal coughing and vomiting.

This disease occurs mainly in children and adolescents, but can also be detected in adults.

According to the national calendar of preventive vaccinations in Uzbekistan, infants receive a pentavalent vaccine (against whooping cough, diphtheria, tetanus, hepatitis V and Hib infection) three times - at the age of 2, 3 and 4 months. And a year later, that is, at 16 months of age, they are re-vaccinated with the DTP-4 vaccine.

Thus, over the past period of this year, about 2 million children throughout the country received a vaccine against this disease. In particular, in January-August, 97.6 percent of children who should have received the Penta-1 vaccine were vaccinated, 98.5 percent of children who should have received the Penta-2 vaccine and 98.5 percent of children who should have received the Penta-3 vaccine.

In addition, 98.9 percent of boys and girls aged 16 months received the booster vaccine.

It is worth noting that whooping cough is seasonal and can most often occur in the autumn-winter period. In most cases, it is observed in unvaccinated children (due to medical exemptions or refusal to vaccinate) and in those who have not completed the full course of vaccination. In some cases, children who have not developed immunity (seronegative) after vaccination may develop whooping cough.

Accordingly, the risk of spreading this disease among unvaccinated children remains. Thus, whooping cough, although in small quantities, can be detected among the population and this is quite normal.

Because this disease can be completely eliminated only by creating collective immunity. To do this, it is necessary that children undergo full vaccination in accordance with the national schedule of preventive vaccinations.

Current epidemiological situation in our country regarding the incidence of whooping cough is characterized as stable and there is no cause for concern, especially considering the fact that this disease can be cured without any complications, he added.