Measles outbreak in Kosovo, Ferizaj with the most cases

Measles cases have returned to several municipalities in Kosovo. Ferizaj has the highest number of infected people. The National Institute of Public Health said that active monitoring of the epidemiological situation is continuing, as well as activities for the vaccination of children. And in two municipalities they have denied the data of the NIPHK

Within two weeks, eight measles cases have been confirmed in Kosovo in five municipalities, while the largest number of cases was registered in Ferizaj, the National Institute of Public Health has announced.
Cases, according to this institute, have also been registered in Pristina, Drenas, Kaçanik and Podujeva.

The Director of Health in the Ferizaj municipality, Kemal Emini, told KOHA that the confirmed cases were identified in a kindergarten.

"A kindergarten in Ferizaj has had three unvaccinated cases with the MMR vaccine, aged 15 to 18 months. All three cases have been hospitalized in the Infectious Diseases Department at UCCK. For the actions to be taken, the decisions of the National Institute of Public Health will be implemented at the republic level, so the situation of the spread of measles is being constantly monitored. The identification of unvaccinated children, specifically targeting cases with higher risk and actively contacting parents to encourage them to vaccinate their children," said Emini.

The Director of Health in the municipality of Pristina, Bujar Gashi, has stated that only one case has been identified and that he is not a resident of the capital.

"This is a resident of Drenas, in all likelihood, but with temporary residence in Pristina, because there are no residents of Pristina," he said. 

also Arberi June 22, 2026 For about two months, 40 cases of measles were reported in Kosovo.

But the NIPHK's data that there are also cases registered in Kaçanik and Drenas have been denied by local representatives in these municipalities.

The Director of Health in Kaçanik, Lumnije Damnika-Selmanaj, stated that no cases have been reported in the QKMF of this municipality. 

According to her, a person can be registered as a resident of Kaçanik, but not live there.

The Director of Health in the municipality of Drenas, Kaltrina Qerkinaj, has also emphasized that there are no confirmed cases, but according to her, preventive measures are being taken.

And, the National Institute of Public Health and Public Health has said that the assessment of the epidemiological situation at the state level is continuing.

"Active monitoring of the epidemiological situation is continuing, as well as activities to vaccinate children who, for various reasons, have not received the first dose of the MMR vaccine. Parents are urged to vaccinate their children, because measles is a serious disease and can cause serious complications," the NIPHK response states.

A month ago, KOHA reported that the spread of misinformation about the measles vaccine has reduced parents' confidence, causing nearly 3 children to not be vaccinated on time during 2025. 

Even the Director of Health in the Municipality of Pristina has presented disinformation as a problem.

also Arberi June 15, 2026 36 measles cases in Kosovo in two months, NIPHK calls for vaccination

"The hesitation and conspiracy are from the pandemic onwards. We have always taken measures, even last year, we contact parents who have not received the vaccines, we call them and explain to them that they should get them. During Vaccination Week, we held lectures in all centers, simply to assure parents that the vaccine is what protects them and not what harms them," said Gashi.

Measles is a highly contagious disease that mainly affects children and spreads through the air, coughing or sneezing of infected people, causing symptoms such as high fever, cough, red eyes and skin rashes.