A case of measles was recently registered in Tirana in a three-year-old child, who has been hospitalized since December 22.
According to health sources, the child was born in England, but lived in Tirana and was unvaccinated against measles. After presenting at the hospital, the case was placed under epidemiological investigation by the Institute of Public Health, according to the protocols in force.
The child continues to be under the care of doctors and his condition is being monitored by hospital services.
Official data shows that 18 cases of measles have been registered in Albania this year, compared to 24 cases last year. The majority of these cases were found in unvaccinated people.
Public health experts warn that declining vaccination coverage is leading to a resurgence of measles cases in the population. One of the main reasons for parents' reluctance to vaccinate their children is related to unsubstantiated claims about the link between the measles vaccine and autism, claims that have been refuted for years by numerous international scientific studies.
Measles is a highly contagious and potentially dangerous disease, which can lead to serious health complications and, in severe cases, even death, especially in young children and unvaccinated people.
