Water Safety Crisis: North Macedonia has declared a 30-day state of crisis in Gostivar after contaminated tap water was linked to more than 3,200 illness cases and about 1,200 people sought medical help for stomach problems; prosecutors are investigating whether illegal pumps let contaminated water into the supply, and the municipal water company head and two managers face possible detention. Arsenic Warning: A separate ban on drinking tap water was introduced in Valandovo after arsenic levels came in about 40% above WHO guidance; officials say the water may be used for industrial purposes and bathing, but long-term drinking could cause chronic health effects. Heat & Storm Impacts: A wider southern heatwave and storms have hit the region, with Skopje reporting 11 hospital admissions after a Tuesday storm felled trees, damaged roofs, and caused power outages and water disruptions. Public Health Threat: West Nile virus transmission is underway across Europe, with locally acquired cases reported in Greece and also noted for North Macedonia in ECDC surveillance updates. Health Sector Training: Aspetar’s Surgery Observer Programme drew 69 international observers over the past year, including participants from North Macedonia, reflecting growing demand for orthopaedic and sports medicine training. Diplomacy With a Health Angle: During President Droupadi Murmu’s first-ever Indian head-of-state visit to North Macedonia, both sides highlighted cooperation priorities including healthcare and pharmaceuticals alongside trade and technology.