Chickenpox in Poland in 2016

BACKGROUND: Chickenpox is a common disease in Poland. Annually, between 160,000 and 220,000 cases are registered. On average, there is an increase in incidence every 4 years. Therefore, it is justified to use preventive vaccination that effectively protects against infection. In Poland, since 2002, these are recommended vaccinations.

AIM: To assess the epidemiological situation of chickenpox in Poland in 2016. and a comparison with the situation in previous years.

METHODS: Assessment of the epidemiological situation of chickenpox in Poland in 2016. was based on the results of the analysis of aggregate data published in the annual bulletins: “Infectious diseases and poisoning in Poland in 2016” and “Protective Vaccination in Poland in 2016. (Czarkowski MP, et al. Warsaw, NIZP-PZH, GIS). In addition, the recommendations from the Protective Vaccine Program for 2016 were used.

RESULTS: In 2016, 160,707 cases of chickenpox were registered in Poland, 14.3% fewer cases than in the previous year. The incidence of varicella in 2016 was 418.2 per 100,000. and was lower than in 2015 by 14.3%. The lowest incidence was registered in the Podkarpackie Voivodeship - 259.3 / 100,000, the highest and the highest one in 2015 in the Śląskie Voivodship - 542.9 / 100,000. Children aged 0-4 (77 258) and 5-9 (60,818) became ill most. The incidence of men pox was higher than for women, and the rural population higher than for urban residents. Hospitalization due to chickenpox in 2016 included 1 219 people, which accounted for 0.76% of the total number of registered cases. 66,357 people were vaccinated against varicella.

SUMMARY: In 2016, there was a decrease in the number of smallpox cases, which may be explained by activities in the field of health education aimed at protective vaccination and indicating the benefits of preventive vaccination, as well as increasing the knowledge of the general public in the prevention of infectious diseases by vaccination.