Gostivar water crisis: 4,000 infected as hyperchlorination proceeds

Gostivar water crisis hyperchlorination gastroenteritis outbreak 4,000 infected

A contamination of the municipal water supply in Gostivar, North Macedonia, with fecal matter has triggered a gastroenteritis outbreak that has infected roughly 4,000 residents. Health authorities reported 750 infection reports, of which 490 have been processed, and the daily number of new patients has fallen to about 80 – half the figure recorded in previous days – indicating the epidemic is moving into a stabilization phase.

Analyses show that residual chlorine levels remain insufficient, so the water is still not approved for drinking or even for technical use. Teams from the Skopje water utility have been conducting hyper‑chlorination of the network, and officials expect a formal announcement that the water will be technically safe within the next day or week. The national infectious‑diseases commission warned that hepatitis A and E could appear as delayed consequences, while the Public Prosecutor’s Office will investigate responsibility for the crisis.

Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski and Health Minister Sasho Klekovski have both briefed the public, pledging continued measures and emphasizing that the water supply will be restored to safe standards as soon as laboratory checks confirm adequate chlorination.

Entities

Gostivar · Hristijan Mickoski · JP Vodood i kanalizacija Skopje · Public Prosecutor’s Office · Sasho Klekovski

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 5 SOURCES] The national Commission for Infectious Diseases warned that hepatitis A and hepatitis E could appear as delayed consequences of the water contamination. centar.mk · racin.mk · zurnal.mk · alsat.mk
[● 4 SOURCES] The outbreak is entering a stabilization phase with decreasing new cases. zoom.mk · opserver.mk · koha.mk · lajmpress.org
[● 4 SOURCES] Authorities are hyperchlorinating the Gostivar water network and expect an announcement tomorrow that the water will be technically safe for use. lider.mk · skopje1.mk · denesen.mk
[DISPUTED] Approximately 4,000 people have been infected in Gostivar due to contaminated water. zoom.mk · opserver.mk · vocentar.com · koha.mk · lajmpress.org · +2 more
[● 5 SOURCES] The Água in Gostivar is still unsafe for drinking and technical use because residual chlorine levels remain insufficient. zoom.mk · opserver.mk · vocentar.com · koha.mk · zhurnal.mk
[● 6 SOURCES] On the latest reported day, 80 new patients were registered, half the number of previous days. zoom.mk · opserver.mk · vocentar.com · lajmpress.org · zhurnal.mk · +1 more
[● 2 SOURCES] Opposition party SDSM demanded the resignation of Health Minister Sasho Klekovski over the water crisis.
[● 2 SOURCES] More than 3,000 residents have sought medical help for symptoms linked to the contaminated water. alsat.mk
[● 3 SOURCES] The water supply in Gostivar was contaminated with fecal matter, causing a gastroenteritis outbreak. skopskoeho.mk · lokalno.mk · tocka.com.mk
[● 5 SOURCES] As of today, the water in Gostivar is expected to be technically safe for non‑drinking uses. skopskoeho.mk · biznisvesti.mk · libertas.mk · novamakedonija.com.mk · republika.mk
[● 3 SOURCES] The water is still not approved for drinking because residual chlorine levels remain insufficient. racin.mk · 360stepeni.mk · lokalno.mk
[● 3 SOURCES] Director Artana Asani, technical director Leon Mezini and sector head Vaden Dauti are among those involved in the investigation. skopskoeho.mk · libertas.mk · novamakedonija.com.mk