Health Crisis in Gostivar, Experts: Patients Also Risk Jaundice

Within the span of ten days, 3,850 residents of Gostivar have sought help at healthcare institutions due to gastrointestinal disturbances.

Although the number of medical visits has begun to decline, there are still patients presenting at the hospital and health centers with symptoms of diarrhea and vomiting. Authorities on the scene are engaged and assure that the tap water will first be technically safe and then completely clean in the shortest possible timeframe. At the same time, the situation is being monitored by the Commission for Infectious Diseases, an advisory body to the Minister of Health.

Dr. Zhaklina Shopova, chairwoman of this commission, stated: “The gold standard for bacterial identification remains the stool culture. As you have been informed by the Minister and other relevant institutions, you know that the stool culture analyses have currently come back negative for all patients. This implies that, although we have the presence of bacteria and viruses, the main causative agent remains unidentified. No one in the world has pinpointed this in similar waterborne epidemics, so do not expect an immediate answer.”

The infectious disease specialist emphasized that there should be no complacency among either the citizens of Gostivar or the healthcare system, because in these types of epidemics, other gastrointestinal infections and contagious diseases may emerge later.

“As a commission, we sounded the alarm in time so that the system would not relax, as it is possible that alongside these intestinal problems, we could also have outbreaks of hepatitis A and hepatitis E, meaning jaundice, for which the Ministry of Health and other domestic health authorities are notified in real time,” added Dr. Shopova.

According to information provided yesterday by the Minister of Health, astrovirus and the shigella bacteria are the most widespread among the affected residents of Gostivar, but these agents are not identical in all patients, and for this reason a final conclusion cannot be formulated.

It has been five days since the declaration of the epidemic in Gostivar, and citizens are strictly prohibited from using tap water for any purpose until they receive an official notification from the competent authorities.