DOCSLIB.ORG

Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus Infections in Cattle in Kosovo

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus Infections in Cattle in Kosovo Central Journal of Veterinary Medicine and Research Bringing Excellence in Open Access Research Article *Corresponding author Martin H. Groschup, Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases at the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald-Island of Riems, Germany, Tel: 49-38351-7-1163; Email: Submitted: 19 December 2017 Fever Virus Infections in Cattle Accepted: 25 January 2018 Published: 29 January 2018 in Kosovo ISSN: 2378-931X Copyright Arber Taraku1, Miriam Andrada Sas2, Arta Lugaj3, Bejo Bizhga4, © 2018 Groschup et al. Kristaq Berxholi4, and Martin H. Groschup2* OPEN ACCESS 1Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Agricultural University of Tirana, Albania 2Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Germany Keywords 3Departments of Biology, University “Ismail Qemali”, Albania • Orthonairovirus; Nairoviridae; IgG antibodies; Cattle; 4Department of Preclinical Subjects, Agricultural University of Tirana, Albania ELISA Abstract Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a zoonotic vector-born viral disease named for the causative agent, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV). CCHFV is a member of the family Nairoviridae, genus Orthonairovirus. The virus is mainly transmitted via tick bites. Other transmission pathways are contact to blood, other bodily fluids and tissues of viremic animals or human patients. The case fatality rate in humans lies between 2 and 80%. Unlike humans, animals do not show clinical signs but they develop a stable antibody titer after a short viremia (< 2 weeks). Hence, seroepidemiological studies in livestock are very useful as risk indicator for CCHF in humans. The aim of this study was to examine the distribution of CCHFV infections among cattle in different districts of Kosovo. This survey was carried out in 2013-2014. Blood samples were taken from the jugular vein of 932 cattle in Kosovo. These sera were collected from nine different districts of Kosovo (Suhareke, Rahovec, Malisheve, Kline, Decan, Drenas, Prizren, Peje and Gjakove) and were tested with different serological assays (ELISA and IFA) at Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI), Greifswald, Germany. Through these techniques it was possible to identify CCHFV-specific IgG antibodies in serum samples of infected animals. Specific IgG antibodies were detected in cattle from all sampled areas and detected prevalence were substantial in some districts (43, 64% in Malisheve, followed by 25.25% in Rahovec). The overall seroprevalence was 19.21% (179 positives), with major CCHFV risk areas in Malisheve and Rahovec. ABBREVIATIONS CCHFV: Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus; in Albania, Bulgaria and Kosovo, while infection rates and case numbers in most other countries are fairly unknown [10,12]. Clinical symptoms can be mild and flu-like but also severe FLI: Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut; ELISA: Enzyme-Linked hemorrhagic fevers do occur. Case fatality rates vary between ImmunosorbentINTRODUCTION Assays; IFA: Immunofluorescence Assays 5% (Turkey) [13] and 80% (China) [14-16], depending on the The Crimean–Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) is a circulating virus strain, the healthcare system and the general awareness. In contrary to humans, other mammals do not show Nairoviridae of any signs of illness but elicit IgG antibodies after a short viremia tick-borne virus belonging to the genus Orthonairovirus, family and therefore can serve as risk indicators for CCHF circulating RNA viruses. The new genus Orthonairovirus includes 12 species, which are grouped in seven serogroups. in the environment. CCHFV is endemic in Kosovo, which2 is a landlocked country with a surface area of 10,877 km in the CCHF serogroup contains CCHF virus and Hazara virus. CCHF virus circulates in nature in an enzootic tick-vertebrate-tick cycle. center of the Balkan Peninsula and has borders with Macedonia, Ticks of the genus Hyalomma are the main vectors and reservoirs Albania, Serbia and Montenegro [17]. The first cases of CCHF in Kosovo were registered in 1954 in Nishor village (three fatal of the virus [1, 2-5] and define the worldwide. distribution of CCHFV [2,3,6, 7]. In Europe, Hyalomma marginatum ticks play cases) [17,18] and in 1957 a family outbreak leading to eight the most important role in CCHFV transmission The geographic fatalities was described [19]. Cases were again detected in 1989 distribution of the diseases is closely linked to the distribution (7 cases) and 1991 (9 cases). Since 1992 the disease has been of Hyalomma ticks which are found up to 46°N (latitude North) considered to be present in sporadic or epidemic form, notably [2,8,9]. Hence, humans become infected primarily when working with an outbreak in 1995 (46 cases) [20]. Based on the records outdoors or as health care workers with infected patients. Human of the Institute of Public Health of Kosovo, from 1995 to August cases have been reported from more than 30 countries of Asia, 2013, 228 cases of CCHF have been reported in Kosovo, with the South-Eastern Europe and Africa [2,10]. In Turkey, more than fatality rate of 25.5% [21]. Whereas human clinical cases have 1,000 human CCHF cases are reported annually in some years of been studied extensively, there is only limited knowledge about the last decade [10,11]. In Europe, human cases occur regularly the overall seroprevalence of the disease in Kosovo [21-24]. Cite this article: Taraku A, Sas MA, Lugaj A, Bizhga B, Berxholi K, et al. (2018) Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus Infections in Cattle in Kosovo. J Vet Med Res 5(1): 1119. Groschup et al. (2018) Email: Central Bringing Excellence in Open Access Figure 1 Kosova map and the study areas. Table 1: Region/Location Serum sample tested (Final result) The results obtained from indirect ELISA for detection of CCHFV-specific IgG antibodies in cattle. (village) Animal species Total samples Positive samples Negative Antibody prevalence % Suharekë Cattle 220 10.2 Rahovec Cattle 198 148 25.25 245 25 Malishevë Cattle 72 93 43.65 50 Klinë Cattle 4 8.0 165 Decan Cattle 77 10 12.98 50 46 Drenas Cattle 49 44 10.2 67 Prizren Cattle 48 43 10.41 5 Pejë Cattle 3 47 6.0 5 Gjakovë Cattle 10 50 Total Cattle 932 179 753 19.2% CI=0.95 50 5 45 Abbreviations : CCHFV: Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus; ELISA: Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays; CI: Continuous Integration. MATERIALS AND METHODS in cattle adapted commercial CCHFV-IgG-ELISA (Vector-Best, Serum samples re-tested again in a cattle adapted commercial CCHFV-IgG-IFA This survey was carried out in 2013-2014 in 9 municipalities Novosibirsk, Russia). In case of divergent results, samples were of Kosovo. Blood samples were taken from the jugular vein of 932 collected in endemic regions of southwest region of Kosovo and cattle in (Suhareke, Rahovec, Malisheve, Kline, Decan, Drenas, also(Euroimmun, in a non-endemic Lübeck, Germany) region (Drenas) for final of confirmation. Kosovo, also Sera to cover were Prizren, Peje and Gjakove). Serum samples were collected in different ecologic conditions. regions where human cases already occurred as refer to the RESULTS AND DISCUSSION figureSerological below. analysis A total of 932 bovine serum samples were tested for CCHFV- ith a specific IgG antibodies. The data presented in Table 1 indicate the positiveAll collected or inconclusive sera were result tested in theusing in-house a cattle ELISA specific were in-house rerun CCHFV-IgG-ELISA [as described before (10, 25)]. Samples w presence of CCHFV-specific antibodies in 9 districts of Kosovo: 10.2% in Suharekë, 25.25% in Rahovec, 43.65 % in Malishevë, J Vet Med Res 5(1): 1119 (2018) 2/4 Groschup et al. (2018) Email: Central Bringing Excellence in Open Access 8.0 % in Klinë, 12.98 % in Decan, 10.2% in Drenas, 10.41% in . replication. Fields virology, 4th edn. In: HowleyDMKaPM, editor. 2. WhitehousePhiladelphia, CA.PA: Lippincott-RavenCrimean-Congo hemorrhagic 200. fever. Antiviral Res. Prizren,These 6.0% data in strongly Pejë and indicate 10.0% inthe Gjakovë presence and circulation of 3. 2004; 64: 145-160. Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever [15]virus among cattle in all different districts of Kosovo. The CCHFV-specific IgG antibody Charrel RN, Attoui H, Butenko AM, Clegg JC, Deubel V, Frolova TV, et al. Malisheve is already known as a CCHFV hotspot for human Tick-borne virus diseases of human interest in Europe. Clin Microbiol prevalence among cattle in Malisheve was very high (43.64%). infections and many hemorrhagic cases occurred in this district 4. Infect.Ergönü 2004;l O. Crimean-Congo 10: 1040-1055. haemorrhagic fever. Lancet Infect Dis. in the past. This correlates well with the high seroprevalence detected in cattle now. One explanation for this accumulation is 2006;Fisher-Hoch 6: 203-214. SP. Lessons from nosocomial viral haemorrhagic fever 5. the high number of Hyalomma ticks in this part of the country [26]. outbreaks.Swanepoel BrR, MedShepherd Bull. 2005;AJ, Leman 73-74: PA, 123-137. Shepherd SP, McGillivray GM, The other municipality with a high prevalence of CCHFV-specific Erasmus MJ , et al. Epidemiologic and clinical features of Crimean- areas in Kosovo have lower seroprevalences than Malisheve and 6. Congo hemorrhagic fever in southern Africa. Am J Trop Med Hyg. antibodies is Rahovec (25.25 %). The results show that all other 7. emphasizeRahovec respectively: that Prizren Decani is located 12.99%, near Priezreni the has 10.42%,region in Drenasi Kukes 1987; 36: 120-132. 10.20%, Gjakova 10.0%, Klina 8% and Peja 6%. It is important to Hoogstraal H. The epidemiology of tick-borne Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever in Asia, Europe, and Africa. J Med Entomol. 1979; (Albania). A total of 48 cattle from Prizren were examined and 5 8. 15: 307-417.á antibody positive sera were found, which gives a seroprevalence Hub lek Z, Rudolf I. Tick-borne viruses in Europe. Parasitol Res. 2012; of 10.42%.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Violence Against Kosovar Albanians, Nato's
    VIOLENCE AGAINST KOSOVAR ALBANIANS, NATO’S INTERVENTION 1998-1999 MSF SPEAKS OUT MSF Speaks Out In the same collection, “MSF Speaking Out”: - “Salvadoran refugee camps in Honduras 1988” Laurence Binet - Médecins Sans Frontières [October 2003 - April 2004 - December 2013] - “Genocide of Rwandan Tutsis 1994” Laurence Binet - Médecins Sans Frontières [October 2003 - April 2004 - April 2014] - “Rwandan refugee camps Zaire and Tanzania 1994-1995” Laurence Binet - Médecins Sans Frontières [October 2003 - April 2004 - April 2014] - “The violence of the new Rwandan regime 1994-1995” Laurence Binet - Médecins Sans Frontières [October 2003 - April 2004 - April 2014] - “Hunting and killings of Rwandan Refugee in Zaire-Congo 1996-1997” Laurence Binet - Médecins Sans Frontières [August 2004 - April 2014] - ‘’Famine and forced relocations in Ethiopia 1984-1986” Laurence Binet - Médecins Sans Frontières [January 2005 - November 2013] - “MSF and North Korea 1995-1998” Laurence Binet - Médecins Sans Frontières [January 2008 - 2014] - “War Crimes and Politics of Terror in Chechnya 1994-2004” Laurence Binet - Médecins Sans Frontières [June 2010 -2014] -”Somalia 1991-1993: Civil war, famine alert and UN ‘military-humanitarian’ intervention” Laurence Binet - Médecins Sans Frontières [October 2013] Editorial Committee: Laurence Binet, Françoise Bouchet-Saulnier, Marine Buissonnière, Katharine Derderian, Rebecca Golden, Michiel Hofman, Theo Kreuzen, Jacqui Tong - Director of Studies (project coordination-research-interviews-editing): Laurence Binet - Assistant: Berengere Cescau - Transcription of interviews: Laurence Binet, Christelle Cabioch, Bérengère Cescau, Jonathan Hull, Mary Sexton - Typing: Cristelle Cabioch - Translation into English: Aaron Bull, Leah Brummer, Nina Friedman, Imogen Forst, Malcom Leader, Caroline Lopez-Serraf, Roger Leverdier, Jan Todd, Karen Tucker - Proof reading: Rebecca Golden, Jacqui Tong - Design/lay out: - Video edit- ing: Sara Mac Leod - Video research: Céline Zigo - Website designer and webmaster: Sean Brokenshire.
    [Show full text]
  • Series 1: General Statistics
    Republika e Kosovës/Republika Kosova/Republic of Kosovo Qeveria - Vlada - Government Ministria e Shërbimeve Publike - Ministarstvo Javnih Sluzbi - Ministry of Public Service Series 1: General Statistics Kosovo in figures 2007 Publisher: Statistical Office of Kosovo (SOK) Publication date: April 2008 © Statistical Office of Kosovo Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged. Printed by: K.G.T Prishtina, Kosovo A great deal of information is avalible on Internet is available on Internet, which can be accessed on the SOK Website: www.ks-gov.net/esk F o r e w o r d Publication”Kosovo in Figures 2007” is horizontal statistical publication. This publication contains administrative and research statistics obtained from the most important statistical surveys. The purpose of this publication is to emphasise data on the social- economic, demograophic and agricultural situation, etc., in Kosovo. Users needed to use these detailed statistical data, can find them at the Statistical Office of Kosovo (SOK), in Pristina or at the web site www.ks-gov.net/esk. Comments and suggestions are welcomed for the purpose of further improvements of the future publications. April, 2008 Chief of Execution, SOK Mr. Avni Kastrati Kosovo in Figures 2007 Abbreviations DHS Demographic and Health Survey EU European Union GDP Gross Domestic Product € Euro SOK Statistical Office of Kosovo FSOY Federal Statistical Office of Yugoslavia IUCN World Organization of Nature Protection ICET International Classification of External Trade MEF Ministry of Economy
    [Show full text]
  • 78-Management Response (English)
    MANAGEMENT RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR INSPECTION PANEL REVIEW OF THE KOSOVO POWER PROJECT (PROPOSED) Management has reviewed the Request for Inspection of the Kosovo Power Project (pro- posed), received by the Inspection Panel on March 29, 2012 and registered on April 12, 2012 (RQ12/01). Management has prepared the following response. May 21, 2012 CONTENTS Abbreviations and Acronyms ......................................................................................... iv Executive Summary .......................................................................................................... v I. Introduction .............................................................................................................. 1 II. The Request .............................................................................................................. 1 III. Project Background ................................................................................................. 2 IV. Management’s Response ......................................................................................... 5 Map Map 1. IBRD No. 39302 Boxes Box 1. Emergency Evacuation of an At-Risk Part of Hade Village in 2004/05 Annexes Annex 1. Claims and Responses Annex 2. Selected List of Meetings with Civil Society Organizations Regarding Ko- sovo’s Energy Sector Annex 3 List of Publicly Available Documents Regarding the Proposed Kosovo Power Project Annex 4. Country Partnership Strategy for the Republic of Kosovo FY12-15 Annex 5. Comprehensive Water Sector Assessment Annex
    [Show full text]
  • Radical Settlements in the Balkan
    International security 159 Nóra Pákozdi – György Nógrádi: RADICAL SETTLEMENTS IN THE BALKAN ABSTRACT: The disintegration of Yugoslavia left ponderously operating small states behind. During the process of disintegration, radical movements of the Balkans were given a boost, which is – in addition to several influencing factors – one of the direct causes of the recent radicalization. Among the Balkan countries,1 the most affected ones are Bosnia and Herze- govina and Kosovo, but radicalism also influences the society and administration of Albania, Macedonia and Serbia. The (mainly) Muslim communities’ extremism posed a complex problem before the current wave of immigration, many operating groups in the Balkans built up close links with Middle-Eastern fundamentalist organizations (mostly with Al-Qaeda and ISIS), and organized criminal and terrorist acts in Europe as a forward base of the fun- damentalist centers. A new global threat is the recruitment and travel of foreign fighters to Syria and Iraq, to the Islamic State and other terrorist organizations’ training camps, besides the uncontrolled influx and the blending of possible fighters among the operating European groups also poses a huge risk. This process is significantly easier, as the foreign recruiters only have to keep in touch with the local centers’ leaders, who can provide a constant supply of human force and equipment. Thereby, the radical Muslim communities’ empowerment and isolation are not only a daily threat in Western Europe (especially Belgium and France), but also might lead to the destabilization and radicalization of the Balkans. The analysis shows examples of the Western Balkans’ fundamentalism by countries, localizes villages and towns with fundamentalist majority, and outlines the influence of the centers’ ideologies.
    [Show full text]
  • Youth Study Kosovo 2018 / 2019 the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung
    YOUTH STUDY KOSOVO 2018 / 2019 THE FRIEDRICH-EBERT-STIFTUNG The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) is the oldest political foundation in Germany, with a rich tradition in social democracy dating back to 1925. The work of our political foundation revolves around the core ideas and values of social democracy – freedom, justice and solidarity. This is what binds us to the principles of social democ- racy and free trade unions. With our international network of offices in more than 100 countries, we support a policy for peaceful cooperation and human rights, promote the establishment and consolidation of democratic, social and constitutional structures and work as pioneers for free trade unions and a strong civil society. We are actively involved in promoting a social, democratic and competitive Europe in the process of European integration. YOUTH STUDIES SOUTHEAST EUROPE 2018/2019: “FES Youth Studies Southeast Europe 2018/2019” is an interna- tional youth research project carried out simultaneously in ten countries in Southeast Europe: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia and Slovenia. The main objective of the surveys has been to identify, describe and analyse attitudes of young people and patterns of behaviour in contemporary society. The data was collected in early 2018 from more than 10,000 respondents aged 14–29 in the above-mentioned countries who participated in the survey. A broad range of issues were ad- dressed, including young peoples’ experiences and aspirations in different realms of life, such as education, employment, political participation, family relationships, leisure and use of information and communications technology, but also their values, attitudes and beliefs.
    [Show full text]
  • Kosovo Property Rights Program (PRP) Annual Report: 2016
    PROPERTY RIGHTS PROGRAM (PRP) Second Annual Summary Report (October 2015 – September 2016) USAID PRP USAID PI COMMUNICATIONS / PI COMMUNICATIONS OCTOBER 2016 This publication was produced for review by the United States Agency for International Development. It was prepared by Tetra Tech. This publication was produced for review by the United States Agency for International Development by Tetra Tech, through the Property Rights Program in Kosovo under the Strengthening Tenure and Resource Rights (STARR) Indefinite Quantity Contract (IQC), USAID Contract Number AID-OAA-I-12-00032 / AID-167-TO-14-00006. This report was prepared by: Tetra Tech 159 Bank Street, Suite 300 Burlington, Vermont 05401 USA Tel: (802) 658-3890 Fax: (802) 495-0282 E-Mail: [email protected] Tetra Tech Contacts: Brian Kemple, Chief of Party Bedri Pejani Street, Building 3, Floor 3 10000 Pristina, Kosovo Tel: +381 (0)38 220 707 Ext. 112 Email: [email protected] John (Jack) Keefe, Senior Technical Advisor/Manager 159 Bank Street, Suite 300 Burlington, Vermont 05401 USA Tel: (802) 658-3890 Email: [email protected] Don Cuizon, Deputy Chief of Party Bedri Pejani Street, Building 3, Floor 3 10000 Pristina, Kosovo Tel: +381 (0)38 220 707 Email: [email protected] Cover Photo: On July 19, 2016, PRP held a launch event in Viti/Vitina municipality to mark the beginning of grassroots activities to raise awareness around property rights and to improve the quality of delivery of property registration services. The event targeted local citizens and youth, but a number of dignitaries and national level officials were in attendance also.
    [Show full text]
  • An Analysis of the State Matura Exam in Kosovo Vjolla Gashi [email protected]
    Rochester Institute of Technology RIT Scholar Works Theses Thesis/Dissertation Collections 7-1-2018 An Analysis of the State Matura Exam in Kosovo Vjolla Gashi [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: http://scholarworks.rit.edu/theses Recommended Citation Gashi, Vjolla, "An Analysis of the State Matura Exam in Kosovo" (2018). Thesis. Rochester Institute of Technology. Accessed from This Senior Project is brought to you for free and open access by the Thesis/Dissertation Collections at RIT Scholar Works. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses by an authorized administrator of RIT Scholar Works. For more information, please contact [email protected]. www.kosovo.rit.edu RIT KOSOVO An Analysis of the State Matura Exam in Kosovo Vjolla Gashi 7/1/2018 Advisor: Venera Demukaj, PhD Submitted to RIT Kosovo as part of requirement for education An Honors Society Project Presented to the Academic Faculty By Vjolla Gashi In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for Membership in the Honors Society of RIT Kosovo www.kosovo.rit.edu Abstract This paper’s aim is to analyze the State Matura Exam. The focus of the analysis is in particular on the administration process of the exam. The analysis is conducted by relying on both primary and secondary research. The research discusses the issues with the administration process of the test, whereby it identifies organized cheating as one of the most problematic issues. It also identifies methods of cheating by relying on primary research e.g. surveys and focus groups. Thus, the study analyzes whether the State Matura Exam fulfills the criteria needed to be considered a standardized test.
    [Show full text]
  • Annual Report on the State of Air 2019
    W ANNUAL REPORT ON THE STATE OF AIR 2019 1 Republika e Kosovës Republika Kosova - Republic of Kosovo Qeveria – Vlada - Government Ministria e Infrastrukturës dhe Ambientit AGJENCIONI PËR MBROJTJEN KOSOVSKA AGENCIJA KOSOVO ENVIRONMENTAL E MJEDISIT TË KOSOVËS ZA ZAŠTITU SREDINE PROTECTION AGENCY ANNUAL REPORT ON THE STATE OF AIR IN KOSOVO 2019 Prishtina 2020 Annual Report on the State of Air 2019 2 1. Introduction Annual reporting on the state of air in Kosovo is the responsibility and duty of the Directorate of Environmental State Assessment, i.e. the Sector for Environmental State Assessment. The report provides an assessment based on existing data from the air quality monitoring system and data on emissions from economic operators and other sources of pollution. Pursuant to the Law No. 03/L-025 on Environmental Protection, the Law No. 03/L-160 for Air Protection from Pollution, and the Law No. 02/L-79 on Hydro-Meteorological Activities, KEPA/KHMI is obliged to monitor the air quality across the territory of Kosovo. KEPA/KHMI has a monitoring system consisted of 12 stations and a mobile station. The monitoring stations are located in various cities in Kosovo. Monitoring stations monitor particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5), NO/NO2, SO2, O3 and CO. Environmental pressures from various polluting factors have influenced in deterioration of air quality in different periods of time during 2019. In 2019, air pollution was assessed to a higher extent in urban areas, which, according to the assessment of data, are: Prishtina, Obiliq, Drenas, Hani i Elezit, Mitrovica, etc. Annual Report on the State of Air 2019 3 2.
    [Show full text]
  • The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Local Government
    INSTITUTI GAP The Impact of the GAP INSTITUTE COVID-19 Pandemic on Local Government May 2020 INSTITUTI GAP GAP INSTITUTE The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Local Government May 2020 Table of Contents 3 Executive Summary 4 Measures Taken by Municipalities to Slow the Spread of COVID-19 Pandemic 6 The Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Municipal Budgets 9 The Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Capital Investments in Municipalities 10 The Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Employment 12 Conclusion This report was originally written in Albanian 13 Annex 3 Executive Summary As of March 13, 2020, the Government of Kosovo has taken the first measures nationwide to slow the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Measures taken include restricting movement and meetings, suspending the work of schools and universities, suspending the majority of business activities, and urban and interurban transport. These measures have affected all municipalities, including those that have not yet identified any COVID-19 cases. As of May 19, 2020, 989 COVID-19 cases were registered in Kosovo, in 31 municipalities. The effects of this situation were felt both in the public and private sectors. In the public sector, it limited the possibility of public investments, provision of public and administrative services, the ability of municipalities to undertake public procurement procedures, and it caused several cancellations of meetings of municipal collective bodies, and those of public consultations. Whereas, in the private sector, the most affected are the construction, accommodation, gastronomy, textile and most of the service sectors. The drop in municipal revenues in all municipalities, during the second half of March and in April ranged between 45% and 90%.
    [Show full text]
  • 2018 Transparency and Accountability Index
    2018 TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY INDEX 2018 TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY INDEX JANUARY 2019, PRISHTINË/PRISTINA 1 2 2018 TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY INDEX 2018 TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY INDEX (DRAGASH, DRENAS/GLOGOVAC, GRAÇANICA/GRACANICA, KAMENICA, KLINA, MALISHEVË/O, MAMUSHA, MITROVICA, OBILIQ/C, SHTËRPCË/A, VITI/VITINA) JANUARY 2019, PRISHTINË/PRISTINA 3 FAZA E RE E DIALOGUT KOSOVË-SERBI COPYRIGHT © 2019. Kosova Democratic Institute (KDI) Kosova Democratic Institute has all rights reserved and no part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, mechanical or electronic, including photocopying or any other system of saving and extraction of materials, without a written permission of the publisher. The publication may be reproduced or transmitted only if used for non-commercial purposes. Whenever and whoever uses various citations or materials of this publication, is obliged to make clear the source from which it has taken such citations or materials used. For any assessment, comment, criticism or suggestion, please contact us through the options provided below: Address: Str. Bajram Kelmendi, No. 38, 10000, Prishtinë/Pristina, Kosovo. Tel.: +381 (0)38 248 038 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.kdi-kosova.org Layout and design: envinion The publication of this report has been made possible with the support of the British Embassy in Prishtinë/Pristina. The opinions, findings and recommendations expressed in this report are responsibility of KDI and do not necessarily represent the views of the donor. 4 INTRODUCTION ............................ 6 METHODOLOGY ............................ 7 Indicators and Pillars .............. 7 Measuring ............................. 10 DRENAS/GLOGOVAC ................... 11 MITROVICA ................................ 19 VITI/VITINA ................................ 27 MALISHEVË/O ............................ 35 KLINA ........................................ 43 DRAGASH .................................. 51 KAMENICA ................................
    [Show full text]
  • Kosovo* 2016 Report
    EUROPEAN COMMISSION Brussels, 9.11.2016 SWD(2016) 363 final COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT Kosovo* 2016 Report Accompanying the document Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions 2016 Communication on EU Enlargement Policy {COM(2016) 715 final} *This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence. EN EN Table of Contents 1. INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................... 4 1.1.Context ................................................................................................................... 4 1.2.Summary of the report ........................................................................................... 4 2. POLITICAL CRITERIA .............................................................................................. 6 2.1.Democracy ............................................................................................................. 6 2.2.Public administration reform ............................................................................... 10 2.3.Rule of law ........................................................................................................... 13 2.4.Human rights and the protection of minorities .................................................... 22 2.5.Regional issues and international obligations .....................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Kosovo's Status
    Policy Briefing Europe Briefing N°45 Pristina/Brussels, 20 December 2006 Kosovo’s Status: Difficult Months Ahead I. OVERVIEW A botched status process that fails to consolidate the prospect of a Kosovo state within its present borders and limits the support the EU and other multilateral bodies There is growing concern that the short postponement can provide would seed new destructive processes. A UN Special Envoy Martti Ahtisaari announced in sense of grievance would become ingrained among November 2006 for presentation of his Kosovo final Albanians throughout the region, strengthening a pan- status proposals to take account of Serbia’s 21 January Albanian ideology corrosive of existing borders and elections may not be the last delay in a process that now possibly even enriching the soil for radical Islam. could extend into the second half of 2007. Nervous Kosovo Albanian leaders worry they may not be able to Some officials fear the international community may not contain public pressures beyond March. With Russia’s be able to focus sufficient energy or will to resolve position hardening and Serbia as obstinate as ever, EU Kosovo status without a crisis on the ground. “Not unity is vital – but far from assured – to keep the status making a decision is making a decision”, a diplomat at process on track, first in the small Contact Group that the UN observed. “If the situation on the ground seems has managed Kosovo affairs since 1999, then in the stable, the Security Council would rather do nothing Security Council where ultimate decisions should be than something difficult”, another noted.
    [Show full text]