Concern over continuous cases smallpox

“The parents should open their children’s health records and check their vaccination coverage. The same should be done for those under 50 years old. They should ask their parents if they have had the disease or if they have been vaccinated with both doses for smallpox”, was tThe recommendation of the honorary professor of Pediatric Infectious Diseases and president of the National Vaccination Committee, Maria Theodoridou, summarizing the problem and the solution regarding the reappearance of smallpox, which now also affects Greece.

The “forgotten childhood disease” of up to two decades ago has sparked epidemics in Europe, alarming Greek health authorities.

Five adults in Crete and Thessaloniki, including medical personnel, are the cases counted in our country so far. All were unvaccinated.

Moreover, until last Friday, one was still hospitalized.

The 3 epidemics that hit Greece

Three epidemics, 4,151 cases, four deaths. That’s the tally for our country regarding smallpox over the past 19 years.

The indigenous infection, thanks to vaccination, is essentially considered “forgotten” as cases are sporadic.

However, it remains a threat, with several European countries experiencing epidemic outbreaks attributed to vaccination, and consequently immunological, gaps during the years of the pandemic.

According to the updated data from the National Public Health Organization, during the period 2004-2023, three smallpox epidemics occurred in Greece in the years 2005-2006, 2010-2011, and 2017-2018, reported through the mandatory reporting system to the Department of Diseases Preventable by Vaccination and Communicable Diseases of the NPHO, totaling 4,151 cases of smallpox.

Who is at greater risk?

Over the past 19 years, the disease has shown the highest incidence in the age group 0-4 years, with an average annual reported incidence of 15.6 cases per 100,000 population, followed by the age group 5-14 years with an average annual reported incidence of 5.11 cases per 100,000 population.

The average annual reported incidence in other age groups ranged from 1.96 (in the age group 15-24 years) to 0.01 cases per 100,000 population in the age group >64 years.

The average annual reported incidence was similar between men and women (men: 1.95/100,000 population, women: 1.86/100,000 population).

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