A brief overview of the epidemiological situation with measles in North Macedonia
This week, 16.03-22.03.2019 a total of 104 cases of measles have been reported(laboratory confirmed or with an epidemiological link,).
74 cases of measles have been reported from Skopje (of which 60.8%, of them are incomplete vaccinated, unvaccinated or with unknown vaccine status.)while the other 30 are from 9 other cities in North Macedonia.
- 10 cases were reported from Kumanovo, 8 of them are incomplete vaccinated, unvaccinated or with unknown vaccine status
- 7 cases were reported from Tetovo, 6 of them are incomplete vaccinated, unvaccinated or with unknown vaccine status
- 3 from Debar ( 2 unvaccinated)
- 2 cases in Struga, Kicevo, Ohrid and Gostivar (a total of 8, 6 are unvaccinated or with uknown sttaus)
- 1 case fropm Veles, Stip (both with unknown status)
A total of 659 cases of measles have been registered in Macedonia since the beginning of the epidemic in Skopje since December 2018, of which 522 have been linked to the epidemic in Skopje.
According to the place of permanent living, measles cases were registered in 19 towns in north Macedonia, of which 469 cases were from Skopje, 57 from Tetovo, 46 from Kumanovo, 18 from Gevgelija, 12 from Debar, 12 from Struga, 9from Gostivar, 10 from Veles, 7 from Kichevo, 4 from Kocani and the other 9 cities are sporadic cases.
The highest incidence of 100,000 inhabitants is registered in Skopje (75.9 / 100.000) and Gevgelija (52.3 / 100.000) and Debar(43.2)
This week’s epidemic of measles is reported in 4 regions, which is currently active (Skopje, Tetovo, Kumanovo and Gevgelija).
The largest number of cases are from the age group 0-4 years, 265 or 10.2% of the total. High percentage of patients is also registered in elderly groups; persons older than 30 years participate with 39% (n = 257) and persons from 20-29 years with 12.6%
Out of a total of 140 cases of children aged 1-4 years, 127 or 90.7% were unvaccinated, and out of 340 cases in people over 20 years of age, 68.5% (n = 233) were unvaccinated, incomplete vaccinated or with unknown vaccine status .
From the total number of registered 659 cases of measles, the highest number and percentage – 334 or 50.7% are laboratory confirmed, 164 or 24.9% are epidemiologically related, while 161 cases (24.4%) are measles .
Since the onset of the epidemic, in Skopje, the total number of vaccinated people under 14 years of age who are subject to vaccination, with a first or second dose, is 11052 children. In the rest of the republic, from the beginning of the epidemic, the total number of vaccinated people up to 14 years with a first or second dose is 6200 children. The total number of immunized persons aged 14 years with MRP vaccine since the start of the epidemic in the Republic of Macedonia is 17252
