Skopje, 16 February 2024 (MIA) – Seventeen new cases of whooping cough (pertussis) have been registered in North Macedonia over the past seven days (Feb 9. - Feb. 15), which is an increase of 21 percent compared to the previous week, shows the weekly report of the Public Health Institute (PHI).

The Institute states that all cases registered over the past week have been in Skopje. Most of the infected are between 10 and 19 years old. According to the report, five of the 17 cases have been hospitalized.

According to the Institute, on the basis of the data from public health centers throughout the country, in the period between Jan. 18 and Feb. 14, 4.197 children who failed to receive their vaccine were identified, 984 (23 percent) of them have now been vaccinated.

“In line with the age and calendar of regular vaccinations, 4.679 children aged under 7 have been vaccinated,” the Institute states.

The country registered its first case of whooping cough in January. As of yesterday, the Institute has identified a total of 39 cases of whooping cough. Most of the infected citizens live in Skopje – 33 (84.6 percent), in nine different municipalities. There are also three cases in Kumanovo, two in Gostivar and one in the village of Bogovinje near Tetovo.

Photo: MIA Archive