In the period from 06.07-12.07.2019,, a total of 10 cases of measles were reported. From the total number of newly reported cases, 7 cases are from Skopje, while the remaining 3 are from and Kumanovo.
During this week, 3 cases are children under the age of 1, 3 cases are in the age group 30-39, 2 cases are in the age group 20-29, 2 cases over 30 years and 1 case in children from 1-4 years.
According to the vaccine status, all cases are unvaccinated, incomplete vaccinated or with unknown vaccine status.
In total, since the onset of the epidemic in December 2018 as of July 12, 2019, 1854 cases of measles have been registered in the Republic of North Macedonia with a disease rate of 89.6 per 100,000 inhabitants.
Due to the epidemiological criteria, a measles epidemic has been declared on the entire territory of the Republic of North Macedonia.
According to the place of permanent living, measles cases are registered in 24 towns, of which 968 cases are from Skopje, Kumanovo – 231, Tetovo – 193, Struga – 112, Kicevo – 59, Veles – 53, Gostivar – 66, Ohrid-35, Gevgelija -19, Debar -22, Prilep-11, Stip-40, and in other cities less than 10 cases were registered (Chart 1). The highest incidece is registered in Skopje (156.7/100 000, Struga (165.1/100 000, Kumanovo 161.9/100 000) Chart 1.
Chart 1. Geographic distribution of measles in N. Macedonia, December 2018 – July 2019
The largest number of cases are from the age group over 30 years -832 (44.9%), and the overall disease rate in this age group is 65.3 per 100,000 inhabitants. 318 children under the age of one year were registered and a disease rate of 1360.5 per 100,000 inhabitants. Children aged 1-4 years are registered with 275 cases (14.8%) and the second highest incidence of 296.3 per 100,000 inhabitants (Chart 2).
Chart 2. Distribution of measles patients in N.Macedonia by age, December 2018-July 2019 (n=1.854)
According to the vaccine status, 1487 or 80.1% of diseased people are unvaccinated, incompletely vaccinated or with unknown vaccine status. From the non-vaccinated persons, 317 (21.3%) are under the age of 12 months and are not subject to vaccination, according to the Immunization Calendar.
Out of 275 children aged 1-4 years, 87.3% were unvaccinated or with unknown vaccine status, and from 830 patients over 30 years of age, 80% were unvaccinated, incomplete vaccinated or with unknown vaccine status.
From the reported cases, 828 or 44.7% were hospitalized, and 290 (15.6%) had complications. Of these, the highest number of complications – 130 or 45% were in children from 0-4 – 74 (25.6%) under the age of one year and 56 (19.4%) in children aged 1-4 years, suggesting that this age group is the most affected and susceptible to complications.
According to the results obtained from the samples sent to Luxembourg’s reference measles laboratory, the B3 Dublin genotype circulates in the country, which circulating also in the neighboring countries.
In Skopje from the beginning of the epidemic, a total of 16082 children were vaccinated to 14 years of age.
In the rest of the country, a total of 16571 children were vaccinated up to 14 years.
The total number of immunized people aged 14 years with MRP vaccine since the start of the epidemic in the republic is 33653.
From the beginning of the epidemic to present date, in the Centers for Public Health, a total of 5846 people have been vaccinated, of which more than 60% are health workers, students and pupils in secondary medical schools, the rest are persons over 14 years of age.
