Gostivar water supply cleared for technical use as health crisis eases

Gostivar contaminated water technical water hepatitis A Sasho Klekovski

More than 4,000 residents of Gostivar sought medical assistance after the municipal water supply was contaminated with fecal matter. Health authorities recorded 869 formal medical reports, of which 602 people were surveyed. In the latest update, 109 new first‑contact cases were reported, bringing the total number of examined patients to over 4,070.

The acute phase of the outbreak is subsiding. Minister of Health Sasho Klekovski announced that the water can now be used for technical purposes – such as street cleaning and fire‑fighting – but it is not yet safe for drinking or food preparation. Ongoing monitoring will continue until laboratory tests confirm the water is fit for consumption.

Klekovski also said the Ministry is introducing intensified post‑acute surveillance, focusing on hepatitis A and hepatitis E and other possible secondary infections. The Alliance for Albanians called on political actors not to politicise the crisis, while three municipal officials have been placed in pre‑trial detention over alleged water‑contamination offences.

Entities

Alliance for Albanians · Christian Micicovski · Gostivar · Government of North Macedonia · Maria Andonovska · Mariya Andonovska · Ministry of Health of North Macedonia · Pançe Toshkovski · Sasho Klekovski · Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM) · Tetovo Public Health Center · Tetovo Public Health Center

Claims

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

[● 2 SOURCES] Water in Gostivar can currently be used for technical purposes but not for drinking or food preparation. portalb.mk
[○ 1 SOURCE] Bottled water distribution to Gostivar residents will continue while water quality is assessed.
[○ 1 SOURCE] Water tests showed bacterial counts 48 times higher than legally permitted levels. portalb.mk
[● 2 SOURCES] The water supply situation in Gostivar is moving toward full normalization. zhurnal.mk · portalb.mk
[○ 1 SOURCE] Three municipal officials were sentenced to 30 days of pre‑trial detention for suspected water‑contamination offences. portalb.mk
[○ 1 SOURCE] The Alliance for Albanians called on political actors not to politicise the water crisis. zhurnal.mk
[○ 1 SOURCE] On 26 July 2026, 127 people in Gostivar were examined for enterocolitis symptoms, and two patients were hospitalized.
[○ 1 SOURCE] New enterocolitis cases continue to be reported in Gostivar, with a modest increase in daily patient numbers.
[● 2 SOURCES] One child was hospitalized due to the contaminated water outbreak in Gostivar. zurnal.mk
[● 2 SOURCES] More than 4,070 residents of Gostivar sought medical assistance because water was contaminated with feces. zurnal.mk
[● 2 SOURCES] Health Minister Sasho Klekovski admitted that delayed action caused the outbreak in Gostivar. zurnal.mk
[● 2 SOURCES] SDSM demanded criminal responsibility for Minister Klekovski and local health officials over the Gostivar water crisis. zurnal.mk