English
There are four confirmed cases of measles in the country: one involves a foreign national, while the other three are Macedonian citizens from Veles, Stip, and Skopje. Among the domestic cases, two are infants under 12 months old, and one is over 40 years of age. All three individuals are unvaccinated. Infants under 12 months are not yet eligible for the vaccine; therefore, they must be protected by ensuring that everyone around them is vaccinated, stated Minister of Health Saso Klekovski today.
He noted that the Institute of Public Health and the Centers for Public Health are currently completing epidemiological analyses to determine whether there is any link between these cases; the findings will be announced very soon. He emphasized that, at present, the conditions for declaring an epidemic have not been met.
Given that these are the first cases—and considering the ongoing epidemics in Kosovo and Bulgaria—we are urging both citizens and institutions to exercise caution. To the general public: please get vaccinated, and verify that you have received two doses of the vaccine or have previously recovered from the disease. I particularly urge healthcare workers to do this, as they are in frequent contact with others and face the highest risk. Furthermore, if you develop a fever and a rash, do not go to the doctor’s office in person; instead, call your doctor. Measles are highly contagious, and any visit to a waiting room increases the risk of the disease spreading. Essentially, waiting rooms in healthcare facilities are the primary points of transmission for measles. The virus remains active in the air for about two hours, creating a relatively broad zone of risk; therefore, I believe we need to exercise the utmost caution in this regard, said Klekovski.
Regarding institutions, he clarified that the Institute of Public Health has already prepared protocols for healthcare facilities. Specifically, we have requested that all healthcare workers check their vaccination records—verifying whether they have been vaccinated or have previously contracted the disease.
Guidelines have been issued to kindergartens and schools—distributed through the relevant ministries—and protocols have been established for border crossings. Before traveling to Kosovo or Bulgaria, please verify your vaccination status, as an epidemic has been declared in both of those countries. We are in communication with the foreign country—Kosovo—to exchange information regarding the foreign national involved. The three Macedonian citizens had not traveled abroad; consequently, investigations are underway to determine potential links within Macedonia. One of the infants was hospitalized at the Clinic for Infectious Diseases but has since been discharged for home care; they are in good condition. “We have issued an order for the Clinic for Children’s Diseases to prepare to admit such cases, because the Infectious Diseases Clinic is not equipped to treat babies,” Klekovski stated, adding that the Commission for Infectious Diseases is already in session.