Three measles cases confirmed in children from the same kindergarten in Sarajevo Canton

(Patria) - Three cases of measles have been confirmed in Sarajevo Canton, Ademir Spahić from the Sarajevo Canton Health Center confirmed to N1. The cases involve three children from a kindergarten in the Novi Grad municipality of Sarajevo. These are unvaccinated children.

“Colleagues at the University Clinical Center Sarajevo have confirmed this, all children are under control, and epidemiologists are also monitoring for any further cases,” Spahić said.

Yesterday, a meeting was held with representatives of the Public Health Institute of Sarajevo Canton, the Ministry of Health of Sarajevo Canton, the Sarajevo Canton Health Center, the Sarajevo Canton Emergency Medical Service Institute, the “Prim. dr. Abdulah Nakaš” General Hospital, and the University Clinical Center Sarajevo, due to the appearance of suspected measles cases. Protocols for action in case of an epidemic declaration in Sarajevo Canton have been clearly defined.

“If an epidemic occurs, it is inevitable,” states Spahić, the reason being the low vaccination rate among children in Sarajevo Canton.

“In Ilijaš and Stari Grad municipalities alone, we have about a thousand children who have not been vaccinated with the MMR vaccine. When you consider other municipalities in Sarajevo Canton, this number will certainly exceed several thousand.”

They emphasize that if a child has been in contact with an infected person and is unvaccinated, they can be brought for vaccination within 72 hours. Doctors once again appeal to parents to adhere to the vaccination schedule and protect their children in time to avoid the development of severe clinical conditions.

An epidemic of measles has been declared in Tuzla Canton, and several children have developed severe clinical conditions.