Kindergartens in the southern city of Dubrovnik released a public notice on Monday asking all parents of children that had not been vaccinated against measles to report to their doctors as soon as possible, vaccinate them, and notify kindergarten staff.

The measure is a precaution against the spread of measles, after several cases suspected of measles infection were discovered in the area. The vaccination rate in the Dubrovnik County is among the lowest in the country, and deemed insufficient to maintain collective immunity against this highly contagious disease.

In addition, the notice said that all children who had not been vaccinated yet must stay at their homes until June 26 at least, and instructed all vaccinated children who exhibit respiratory symptoms to be removed from kindergarten immediately and sent to an infectious diseases specialist.

Recently, eight confirmed cases of measles infection have been recorded in the city. Most of them are employees of the Dubrovnik general hospital who had come into contact with the first case discovered, a 34-year-old man from the town of Ston, the local daily Dubrovacki Vjesnik reported on Monday.

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