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MOJ
eISSN: 2379-6383

Public Health

Letter to Editor Volume 9 Issue 6

Montenegro - a small European and mediterranean country in the Balkans in the fight against the Covid - 19 pandemic

Damir Pelicic1,2

1Center for Science, Clinical Center of Montenegro, Montenegro
2University of Montenegro, Faculty of Medicine, Montenegro

Correspondence: Damir Pelicic, Center for Science, Clinical Center of Montenegro, Podgorica, Ljubljanska bb, Podgorica 20000, Montenegro, Tel +38269302924

Received: November 12, 2020 | Published: November 23, 2020

Citation: Pelicic D. Montenegro - a small European and mediterranean country in the Balkans in the fight against the Covid - 19 pandemic. MOJ Public Health. 2020;9(6):194-195 DOI: 10.15406/mojph.2020.09.00345

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Keywords

Pandemia, Covid 19, Montenegro, Strategy, infection

Dear Editor,

The disease first spread to Wuhan, the capital of Hubei Province in China, and quickly spread to other countries around the world, including Montenegro.1–5 From the first case of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, to March 19, 234073 people worldwide were infected with COVID-19, and 9840 people died from COVID-19 infection.6–9 Immediately after the outbreak of the epidemic in Wuhan China, Montenegro began activities to devise a strategy to combat the Covid 19 epidemic. COVID-19 is a highly contagious disease that is transmitted from person to person by droplets and direct contact. It usually manifests as fever, dry cough, myalgia, and dyspnea; the severity of this disease ranges from mild, severe to critical illness. There is currently no definitive treatment or vaccine for COVID-19. The only proven form of management is isolation and supportive care.10 

Montenegro is the last country in Europe to confirm the first case of COVID-19 infection. It also enabled a better organization of the state to prepare for the expected epidemic. Extended coVid-19 testing is now being applied to include asymptomatic individuals across the country.11

“Montenegro had its first registered case on March 17, 2020, as the last European country to register a Sars-CoV-2 virus infection. Adequate measures of the Government of Montenegro as well as the responsibility of citizens have led to the fact that 04.05.2020. The last case was recorded in 2000, and on May 24, 2020, the last patient was cured, so that Montenegro became the first European country without the corona virus. However, now the situation is diametrically opposed. Currently, Montenegro has 3630 confirmed cases, 155 deaths and a total of 6177 recovered“.12

At a time of global public health challenges and an unprecedented socio-economic crisis, Montenegro has responded to the epidemic in a timely manner. Timely measures were taken following the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO). Montenegro has focused its resources not only on physical distancing measures but also on a proactive approach to disrupting the transmission chain. Strengthen national capacities for detection testing, isolation treatment and contact monitoring.13

At the beginning of the epidemic, people were unaware of the significant risk in the early stages of this emerging disease. Because it has a longer mean incubation, a longer period of infectivity, higher death rates with concomitant diseases, and higher asymptomatic viral loads. Fever occurs in only 43.8% of patients with COVID-19 at baseline. The vaccine is still under investigation.14

“In order to limit the spread of the infection, it was necessary to respond to covid 19 u. Montenegro and (WHO) have worked to strengthen the health system to achieve universal health care for all. The national response to covid 19, based on the principles of solidarity and national unity, partnerships for health promotion and exchange of experiences, has made a significant contribution to the implementation of the WHO's "United for Better Health" work program”.

“Globally, as of  on November 19, 2020, 55,659,785 confirmed COVID-19 cases were recorded, including 1,338,769 deaths, reported to the WHO”.15

Funding

None.

Acknowledgments

None.

Conflicts of interest

The author declares that there is no conflict of interest.

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  11. Sharma SK, Nuttall C, Kalyani V, et al. Clinical nursing care guidance for management of patient with COVID-19. J Pak Med Assoc. 2020;70(5):S118–S123.
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