Chickenpox in Poland in 2023.

BACKGROUND

The epidemiological situation of chickenpox in Poland has been stable in recent years, with no significant increase in the number of cases observed. Between 2016 and 2023, the incidence rate ranged from 389.4 to 506.2 cases per 100,000 population, except for 2020 and 2021, when the incidence rate decreased to 186.6 per 100,000 in 2020 and 151.1 per 100,000 in 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, an increase in the incidence rate was recorded, reaching 453.9 per 100,000.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to assess the epidemiological situation of chickenpox in Poland in 2023 compared to previous years.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

To assess the epidemiological situation of chickenpox in Poland, data submitted to the National Institute of Public Health NIH - National Research Institute by District Sanitary and Epidemiological Stations and published in the annual bulletin "Infectious diseases and poisonings in Poland in 2023" and data published in the annual bulletin "Vaccinations in Poland in 2023" were used.

RESULTS

A total of 190,825 cases of chickenpox were registered in 2023, which was 11.13% more than in 2022, and 27.59% more than the median number of cases for the years 2017-2021. The overall incidence was 506.2/100,000 population. In terms of age, the highest incidence was among children in the age groups 0-4 years (4,741.4/100,000) and 5-9 years (4,155.1/100,000), while in adults, the incidence did not exceed 100 cases per 100,000. In 2023, a total of 123,743 people were vaccinated against chickenpox, of whom 95.49% were children under 11 years of age (118,163 people).

CONCLUSIONS

The slowdown in the increase in incidence in 2023 (compared to 2022) may indicate a stabilization of the chickenpox situation, but the increase in the overall incidence rate above 500 per 100,000 is concerning and requires monitoring in next years.