Skopje, 15 July 2024 (MIA) — As of July 11, amid the three whooping cough epidemics declared in Skopje, Kumanovo and Tetovo, health authorities have logged a total of 905 cases of pertussis nationwide, with 48 new cases registered between July 5 and 11, up 54.8 percent from the week before.

According to the Public Health Institute in its latest report, eight od the new cases have been admitted to hospital.

Most of the new infections, 30, were reported as part of the Skopje epidemic, the PHI said. Another eight cases of whooping cough were reported in Kumanovo, three in Tetovo, two cases each in Kratovo, Gostivar and Bitola, and one case in Prilep.

Of the newly infected people, 33 were not fully vaccinated, were unvaccinated or had an unknown vaccination status; nine were fully vaccinated; and six were vaccinated according to the country's immunization schedule.

The diagnosed patients' ages ranged from one month to 70 years, with the majority of cases in children aged four or younger, the report said.

According to the distribution of all diagnosed cases by gender, 417 persons infected with whooping cough were male and 488 were female.

From Jan. 18 to July 11, a total of 58,964 pertussis vaccine doses have been administered, the report said. mr/