Exact number of leptospirosis patients still unknown, patients reporting to KCUS, enhanced cleaning measures in effect

(Patria) - During the weekend, 18 patients were examined at KCUS, two of whom remained hospitalized due to leptospirosis. As of Friday, May 23, the Institute for Public Health of Canton Sarajevo had 21 reports of individuals infected with the infectious disease leptospirosis, confirmed in the laboratory of the Clinical Center of the University of Sarajevo.

The Institute for Public Health of Canton Sarajevo informed the public that it will release information on the number of new cases on Monday.

Since Friday afternoon, an epidemic of leptospirosis, an infectious disease transmitted by rodents, has been declared in Sarajevo Canton. Emergency cleaning measures, waste removal, and street washing have been ordered, given that the disease is transmitted through rodent urine, and cleaning of basements, attics, and areas where rodents might appear has been mandated.

Citizens are posting photos on social media of basements where sewage is overflowing, and some patients with confirmed leptospirosis have stated that sewage overflow occurred in their buildings.

Since most patients are from the Dobrinja area, civil protection teams and KJKP Rad have intensified activities in street washing and waste removal. However, resolving the issues tenants face in residential buildings with sewage overflowing into basements or apartments will require the involvement of all competent institutions, with property managers also bearing part of the responsibility.

Regarding the appearance of rodents, the Institute clearly stated on Friday that this occurred due to the failure to carry out mandatory legal deratization in Sarajevo Canton. Today, the Institute specified how long deratization has not been performed.

“Upon reviewing documentation and reports on the implementation of mandatory systematic preventive deratization in Sarajevo Canton, it was carried out in the fall of 2022, after which there was a pause in both phases for 2023 due to the inability to conduct a tender, and the spring phase of 2024 (until October 24, 2024). Throughout 2023 and 2024, efforts were made to find solutions for emergency deratization. In 2024, amendments to the Decision were proposed and adopted, and as soon as conditions were met, the aforementioned fall phase of 2024 was implemented. Since then, it has been regularly carried out for public areas,” the Institute announced.

For other facilities (collective housing buildings, residential buildings and auxiliary structures nearby, tourist accommodation facilities, public transport, markets, manholes, sports and recreational areas, catering establishments, and other facilities), owners and users of these spaces are obliged to provide funds and carry out deratization through authorized contractors at the same time.

On Friday, the Canton Sarajevo Prosecutor's Office confirmed that a case has been opened due to the outbreak of the infectious disease in Sarajevo Canton.

Citizens are rightly concerned, but this is also an opportunity for everyone to finally focus on their duties and resolve problems present in the utility and health sectors.

The Institute appealed to the population to pay attention to personal hygiene, with an emphasis on hand and food hygiene, as well as the cleanliness of living spaces and surroundings, and to avoid areas where rodents have been spotted until deratization is completed, which is being repeated in the Dobrinja area due to the epidemic.