A doctor from Novi Pazar reveals what the situation is in a potential hotspot.
The first case of measles in Novi Pazar was registered in a four-year-old child from this city, who was not vaccinated. The child was first hospitalized in the Novi Pazar hospital, and then transferred to Belgrade. After which the confirmation came that it was measles.
“The child is currently in a stable condition and that is the most important thing. What worries us is that numerous contacts were made in the place where he lives, in the hospital. A younger, three-year-old sister who was also unvaccinated developed a fever. It is up to us to do so in the coming period let’s try to find all the contacts and, in cooperation with the pediatricians, monitor the situation”, said for RINU prim. Dr. Šefadil Spahić, director of the Institute for Public Health in Novi Pazar.
He pointed out that there is still no reason to panicbecause it is a sporadic case of measles in Novi Pazar and he referred to a much more difficult situation that was six and seven years ago.
“We had two epidemics in 2017 and 2018, with over 400 cases of infection and two deaths. What can be a cause for concern is that the degree of vaccination is below 60 percent, and it should be around 90 percent. We don’t have collective immunity,” emphasizes Dr. Spahić.
He appeals to all parents to monitor the health status of their children, not to ignore symptoms such as a high temperature exceeding 39 degrees.
