The measles outbreak in the United States (US) has reached alarming levels. According to the latest data, 561 cases have been reported in the state of Texas, and two children have died from complications.
Since the beginning of the year, 12 cases of measles have been registered in Montenegro, and the Institute of Public Health of Montenegro (IJZCG) warns that if the growth trend continues, the epidemic could spread, especially since the number of vaccinated people in our country is by default low.
Only 25 percent of children have received their first dose of the MMR vaccine, which they consider alarming.
Declining vaccination rates and growing distrust in immunization are the causes behind the spread of the measles epidemic in Texas.
Even though we are miles away, on another continent, there is a real danger of the epidemic spreading if the growth trend continues, says epidemiologist at the Institute of Public Health of Montenegro, Adis Martinović.
Around 35 cases of measles were registered in Montenegro last year, while 12 have been recorded since the beginning of this year.
"We all know that America is one of the most developed countries, they have very high coverage, we are witnesses that that percentage has decreased there too, but nowhere near as drastically as here. When you have deaths in a country where that percentage has dropped very little, of vaccinated people, then it is to be expected that here in our country, where we are the country with the lowest coverage in Europe, an epidemic is practically to be expected," Martinović pointed out.
The fact that vaccination with the MMR vaccine is at an extremely low level indicates that Montenegro is facing a similar challenge.
This year, 25 percent of children received their first dose of the vaccine, slightly more than in 2024, when that percentage was around 23 percent. In order to have collective immunity and prevent an epidemic, according to Martinović, 95 percent of children need to be vaccinated.
"The state has tried in many ways to increase coverage, to inform parents about the importance of vaccination, about the danger of the disease, however, these current results are, to say the least, a very small improvement, but we hope that in some future work and more active and stronger campaigns we will manage to bring that number to the number we need," said Martinović.
The experience from Texas clearly shows that even highly developed countries are not immune to epidemics when the number of vaccinated people declines.
The Institute of Public Health of Montenegro is therefore explicit: By increasing awareness, educating and strengthening trust in immunization, we can prevent the consequences and protect public health.
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