KS Crisis Staff: Patients suspecting coronavirus should call ZZZ KS, do not come to clinics

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - The Crisis Staff of the KS Ministry of Health has taken all steps for monitoring and preparedness of everyone in the healthcare chain for the emergence of coronavirus, in accordance with the instructions of the FBiH Crisis Staff and the guidelines of the World Health Organization, stated the KS Minister of Health Amela Sofić at a press conference of this Staff.

Aida Pilav, director of the KS Public Health Institute, who also heads the Crisis Staff, stated that today's address to the public was initiated by information from the World Health Organization office in Geneva that coronavirus has been registered on several continents, which means, according to the definition, that the process of virus spread will likely soon be defined as a pandemic.

“The confirmation of coronavirus cases in Croatia and North Macedonia means that the virus is in circulation and it is expected to appear in BiH as a confirmed case. Today, not only people who have stayed in China, Iran, or Italy are considered potential risks, but also people who have stayed in any area where local transmission and virus spread have been proven,” Pilav stated.

From January 31 to February 27 this year, the total number of people, based on completed sanitary questionnaires, arriving and staying in Sarajevo Canton is 343, with 45 sanitary questionnaires for tourist groups.

“During this period, 29 people were under health supervision, and currently, 15 people are under supervision in KS. There are still no confirmed cases of coronavirus in BiH. We are satisfied with how the testing of tourists from China, who were negative for coronavirus, was carried out according to the established algorithm. As the epidemiological situation changes in the region, the algorithms for action will also change here,” emphasized Dr. Pilav.

The Government of the Federation confirmed today that three clinical centers have sufficient isolation space for potential patients and funds for the procurement of protective equipment. Also, it was emphasized today that BiH received a total of 500 coronavirus tests from the World Health Organization, and KCUS and the Institute for Microbiology have half of them.

“We must know that there are no tests on the market, we cannot buy them, we receive them like all other UN member states. Testing is not available on demand, commercially, but only according to strict medical and epidemiological indications,” stated the president of the Crisis Staff. Alma Burgur from ZZ JZ KS emphasized the importance of isolation and self-isolation and the importance of respecting the decisions issued by federal sanitary inspectors. This includes restricting movement, monitoring health status, and daily reporting to the epidemiological service via hotline numbers.

“We recommend self-isolation for people coming from critical areas to reduce the number of contacts. We appeal to respect these recommendations because the behavior of the population is a very important link in overcoming this situation,” said Dr. Burgur.

The patient pathway in cases of suspected illness is, according to Dr. Rusmir Baljić, an infectious disease specialist, unfortunately, not sufficiently respected:

“Referring suspicious cases from health centers to the Clinic for Infectious Diseases is not the prescribed path. These patients require specific measures to protect themselves and their surroundings. Such patients should not report to family medicine clinics under any circumstances and should not be in the same waiting room with many other, mostly elderly, patients who are the most vulnerable group. Also, sending them to the clinic in the same way endangers patients and healthcare workers in the hospital,” stated Dr. Baljić.

Anyone suspecting coronavirus should contact the on-call epidemiologist, explain their symptoms, after which an on-call team will come and determine if further testing is necessary. If so, such a patient will be transferred by ambulance to the isolation ward of the Clinical Center for further medical treatment. A completely independent center with a laboratory and X-ray has been established at the Clinical Center today for these purposes, so the services of the Central Medical Block will not need to be used, in order to minimize the possibility of virus transmission as much as possible.