The DPS Health Commission appealed to the authorities in the health sector to take all concrete measures in order to prevent the smallpox epidemic, pointing out that the first cases of children becoming ill were confirmed in Montenegro, and that according to their knowledge, another case was registered in Rožaje, which not yet publicly disclosed.
"The first cases of children falling ill with smallpox have been confirmed in Montenegro and it is only a matter of days when the epidemic will start in Montenegro as well. According to our knowledge, another case has been registered in Rožaje, although no one has officially announced it yet!
Realizing the seriousness of the situation, we have repeatedly appealed to the authorities in the health sector to take concrete measures in order to prevent the outbreak of the epidemic. The DPS Health Commission presented the action plan to solve the problem to the public on September 1, 2022, and it contained 16 measures that must be taken," the statement of the DPS Health Commission states.
The Commission reminded that, according to data from the Institute of Public Health, Montenegro was then the worst positioned in the world when it comes to vaccination with the MMR vaccine, so, according to estimates, up to 20.000 children are at risk of smallpox in Montenegro. they claim in DPS.
They add that the then leaders of the health care system did not understand the seriousness of the situation.
"And we have come to the situation we warned about. The Health Commission of the DPS and the expert team of our doctors call on all those responsible in the country to urgently expand a national team that will adequately fight against the suppression of a potential epidemic and where we are ready, as well as always, to contribute to the solution of this problem," the Commission's announcement states.
The Commission reminded that the complications of contracting smallpox can be severe and said that "we must not allow this to happen to our children in the 21st century".
"The MMR vaccine is safe and the best protection against this disease, and that is why we appeal once again that it is necessary for all children in Montenegro to be vaccinated as soon as possible," the announcement concludes.
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