KUIP conducted extensive inspection after leptospirosis outbreak: Markets, shops inspected, numerous measures ordered

(Patria) - The Cantonal Administration for Inspection Affairs of Sarajevo Canton received information from the Public Health Institute of Sarajevo Canton about the outbreak of leptospirosis on May 16, 2025, and information that the affected individuals are from the Dobrinja area.

According to the instructions of the Public Health Institute of Sarajevo Canton, teams of inspectors were formed to conduct intensified and targeted inspections in various areas, including sanitary, food, and market-tourism inspections, starting from May 19, 2025.

Specifically, cantonal sanitary inspectors conducted inspections at 12 business units of the legal entity, KJKP “TRŽNICE-PIJACE” d.o.o. Sarajevo. In the presence of employees and unit managers, inspections were carried out at the following business units: Alipašino Polje Market, Ilidža Market, Vogošća Market, Kvadrant Market, Gradska tržnica Markale, Markale Market, Telali Market, Ciglane Market, Grbavica Market-tržnica, and Hrasno Market. It was determined that the sanitary-hygienic conditions were satisfactory at the time of the inspection, with particular emphasis on the presence of puddles, waste, preventing rodent access to organic waste disposal sites, and other measures to prevent rodent access to food, etc. Records of cleaning and disinfection for January-May 2025 were presented, which are kept properly and up-to-date. Work orders-record sheets for mandatory preventive disinfection, disinsection, and deratization services were also presented, in chronological order for 2025. The last disinfection and disinsection was performed on May 6, 2025, and deratization on May 19, 2025, and May 20, 2025.

Food inspectors conducted nine inspections in shops selling fruits and vegetables located in the Dobrinja area.

The following deficiencies were identified: lack of documentation (invoices/receipts and declarations) proving the traceability of the products found, with the note that most of the controlled food business entities purchase fruits and vegetables at the Heco market or in registered facilities for import and wholesale of fruits and vegetables, while some are from their own registered agricultural production; poor sanitary-hygienic conditions in food handling areas; irregular cleaning and maintenance; lack of current disinfection supplies; improperly performed deratization (no bait stations for poison baits were installed), while in some shops deratization was not performed at all.

Based on the established facts, inspectors issued a total of six orders to rectify deficiencies, including one order for temporary closure of business until adequate sanitary measures are taken. On May 22, 2025, two control inspections were carried out at food business entities that were ordered to take urgent administrative measures, and it was determined that they had rectified the irregularities.

Market-tourism inspectors, accompanied by a police officer from the Novi Grad Police Department - Dobrinja Station, conducted a tour of the Dobrinja area to combat illegal trade – street vending of fruits and vegetables, given their exposure and potential contamination by rodents.

During the mentioned period, market-tourism inspectors found seven individuals operating a trade business without a work permit from the competent authority in the Dobrinja area.

For the identified irregularities, legally prescribed measures were taken, and 6 misdemeanor orders were issued for conducting trade activities without a work permit from the competent authority, totaling 6,000.00 KM. One misdemeanor order was also issued for 1,000.00 KM for obstructing the inspection in accordance with the Law on Inspections of Sarajevo Canton, to an individual found conducting trade activities without a permit who obstructed the inspection.

A request for initiating misdemeanor proceedings was filed with the competent Municipal Court in Sarajevo against one individual, and the goods found in trade without credible accompanying documentation of origin and procurement were seized and handed over to the Directorate for Commodity Reserves of Sarajevo Canton pending the conclusion of court proceedings.

Market-tourism inspectors will continue to tour the Dobrinja area in the future to combat illegal trade – street vending of fruits and vegetables.

According to the instructions and epidemiological assessment of the Public Health Institute of Sarajevo Canton, sanitary inspectors have today (May 23, 2025) begun conducting inspections at:

- KJKP Vodovod i Kanalizacija (Sarajevo Water and Sewerage), to control the implementation of systematic deratization,
- KJKP Rad (Sarajevo Public Utility Company), to order sanitary measures for cleaning and washing streets and sidewalks with water from cisterns,
- KJKP GRAS and CENTROTRANS dd, to order extraordinary disinfection and intensified daily hygiene of public transport.

Information was also requested from the managers regarding deratization performed in common areas of residential buildings where the affected individuals reside.

Further inspection is planned at the HECO market site with the epidemiological team of the Public Health Institute of Sarajevo Canton.

We also note that the sanitary inspection monitored the autumn and spring phases of systematic deratization in Sarajevo Canton, and corrective measures are underway. Given the epidemiological situation, anti-epidemic deratization has also been announced.

The Cantonal Administration for Inspection Affairs of Sarajevo Canton will make every effort to follow the proposals and recommendations of the Public Health Institute of Sarajevo Canton and to order measures for supervised entities to protect citizens' health and prevent the spread of infectious diseases.

We emphasize that protection against infectious diseases is also the duty of local self-government units – municipalities, cantons, and the Federation, health institutions, health insurance funds, private practice providers, business companies, and other legal and natural persons.