A leptospirosis epidemic has been declared in the Sarajevo Canton (KS) in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), the Canton's Ministry of Health announced on May 23rd.
The Cantonal Public Health Institute requested the declaration of a leptospirosis epidemic due to the increased number of infected residents in certain settlements, confirmed Cantonal Health Minister Enis Hasanović at today's session of the Cantonal Assembly.
The Cantonal Institute for Public Health reported 17 laboratory-confirmed cases of leptospirosis between May 14 and 21, the University of Sarajevo Clinical Center (KCUS) announced.
Currently, two patients with elevated fever, respiratory and gastrointestinal complaints are hospitalized at the KCUS Clinic for Infectious Diseases.
The Cantonal Public Health Institute stated that deratization in that canton, which is mandatory to combat the epidemic, has not been carried out for two years, and the reason is a problem with public procurement, or the "destruction" of tenders.
Anisa Bajramović, an epidemiologist at the Institute, said at a press conference that the deratization began three weeks ago and that the results are already visible, but that the full extent is expected in the next 15 to 30 days.
"If deratization was done every spring and autumn, this would not happen. We did not have this situation before, because deratization was always on time, and this time the problem is the tenders," said Bajramović.
In parallel with the systematic rat control, the sewage network also needed to be rat controlled, which also did not happen due to the cancellation of the tender.
Corrective pest control measures have also been requested, especially in settlements where the infestation has occurred.
Water is not a source of infection
The Public Health Institute informed citizens that the water is safe to drink and cannot be the source of the epidemic.
Bajramović emphasized that no specific source of infection has been identified, but that it is "urban leptospirosis due to the increased number of rodents."
"It is not localized to just one area, given that the rodents move around. Those infected are mostly between the ages of 20 and 55, mostly men who had a high temperature with a fever," said Bajramović.
On April 29, the Institute received information about a possible outbreak of infection from a clinic in the Novi Grad municipality, and on May 15, the first laboratory confirmations of three infected people arrived.
After the first three reports, there were also reports of infection from the municipalities of Centar, Ilidža and Hadžići. So far, a total of three people have been hospitalized, and the Institute claims that there were no health complications.
Among the recommended measures is an inspection of buildings in the Novi Grad municipality, since due to a lack of money, there has also been a lack of rodent control.
The grass has not been mowed, the garbage must be taken out regularly. Environmental hygiene must be taken care of, as this will help reduce the number of rodents.
After the Institute has sent the cantonal Minister of Health a proposal to declare an epidemic, he, according to the procedure, should contact the Ministry of Health at the level of the Federation of BiH, from whom he will receive a feedback opinion.
Leptospirosis is an infectious disease caused by pathogenic bacteria called leptospires, which are transmitted directly or indirectly from animals to humans. Human-to-human transmission is very rare, the World Health Organization Office in BiH announced.
Symptoms include sudden onset of fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, and jaundice.
The Cantonal Prosecutor's Office opened a case ex officio after media reports about the leptospirosis epidemic in the Cantonal territory.
"The Prosecutor's Office is carrying out actions aimed at verifying the allegations," the Cantonal Prosecutor's Office announced today.
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