Poland's health report: Whooping cough down, but Hepatitis A surges and diphtheria reappears

A new report from Poland's State Sanitary Inspection reveals a mixed public health landscape for 2025. While cases of whooping cough plummeted by nearly threefold, from 32,430 in 2024 to 11,339 in 2025, and tuberculosis incidence continued its long-term decline to a low of 9.9 per 100,000 people, placing Poland in a low-incidence category, other diseases are causing concern.

The report detailed a significant drop in whooping cough, a disease for which vaccination is mandatory for children in Poland. The vaccine is administered as part of a combined DTaP shot. For adults, a booster shot every 10 years is recommended. The decline in tuberculosis is attributed to effective, long-term elimination efforts.

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Po raz pierwszy zeszły one do poziomu 9,9 na 100 tys.. ludności, co spowodowało przeniesienie Polski do kategorii państw o niskiej zapadalności (poprzednio byliśmy w kategorii średniej)

However, the year saw the first case of throat diphtheria in 25 years, affecting a six-year-old unvaccinated child. Diphtheria requires mandatory hospitalization and treatment with antibiotics and antitoxin, with prompt administration of the antitoxin being crucial for a positive outcome. Vaccination remains the most effective preventive measure, with mandatory vaccination for children and adolescents up to 19 years old in Poland.

In contrast to the positive trends in whooping cough and tuberculosis, the report flagged a worsening situation regarding Hepatitis A. In 2025, 115 outbreaks were registered nationwide, a more than fourfold increase from the 26 outbreaks recorded in 2024. The report emphasizes that preventive vaccinations are available and recommended, particularly for travelers to high-risk countries.

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Po raz pierwszy zeszły one do poziomu 9,9 na 100 tys.. ludności, co spowodowało przeniesienie Polski do kategorii państw o niskiej zapadalności (poprzednio byliśmy w kategorii średniej)