Measles epidemic declared in Zenica-Doboj Canton, parents urged to vaccinate children as soon as possible

(Patria) - Following the first reported death from measles in Zenica-Doboj Canton, Minister of Health Aida Salčinović, based on the report from the Institute for Health and Food Safety Zenica and with the consent of the Federal Ministry of Health and the opinion of the Public Health Institute of FBiH, issued an order on Friday, July 19, declaring an epidemic of infectious measles in this canton.

An epidemic was declared at the beginning of the year in Sarajevo Canton and Tuzla Canton. A few days ago, one death was reported in Sarajevo, and the 17-year-old who died could not be vaccinated.

Although measles is called a "childhood disease" and the majority of those infected are children aged 1 to 4 years, cases of infection in adults have also been recorded, given that it is a highly contagious disease. The infection spreads a few days before the rash appears, and also a few days after the rash breaks out.

There is no cure for this disease; only the symptoms caused by measles, such as high fever, conjunctivitis, and diarrhea, are alleviated. The only adequate prevention is vaccination. Symptoms that appear a few days before the onset of the rash include cough, fatigue, fever, and sore throat, making it difficult at first to realize it is measles until the rash starts to appear on the skin of the face, neck, and torso...

The Cantonal Hospital Zenica had 100 hospitalizations, and all admitted patients were unvaccinated.

Out of 6491 reported cases of measles by July 17, 5568 (85.8%) were unvaccinated, 282 (4.3%) were incompletely vaccinated, and in 539 (8.3%) of the infected, vaccination status was unknown. During this period, 476 measles hospitalizations were reported in FBiH.

Epidemiologists urge parents to vaccinate their children as soon as possible and in as large numbers as possible to achieve herd immunity and minimize the spread of infection.

In children, measles can cause severe complications, which in the most severe cases result in death.

Given that the new school year is approaching, concerns are growing that the infection will spread in the early autumn.