Sarajevo Canton Health Minister Enis Hasanovic met representatives of the main healthcare institutions in Sarajevo due to the suspected measles cases that were recorded in the canton area. The minister said that the number of measles patients is increasing in the Sarajevo Canton, but that the situation is under control for now.

“So far, we have confirmed 11 cases and we are not yet in the epidemic phase. One child was hospitalised at the Clinic for Infectious Diseases of the Sarajevo University Clinical Centre, and was discharged from treatment today. The two other children who were admitted today have a milder symptoms,” said the minister and urged the parents to bring as many children as possible for vaccination.

“This is happening only because the children are not vaccinated. It is shameful that in a European city in the 21st century we are threatened by an epidemic, which can be prevented. Our priority is to prevent the spread and vaccinate as many children as possible, so I call on parents to respond en masse and vaccinate their children,” he added.

The conclusions adopted in the meeting include orders to set up two special vaccination points at the Vrazova Health Centre and the Saraj Polje Health Centre, where healthy children will be vaccinated without notice or appointment, every day in two shifts.

Also, all school and preschool dispensaries, as well as other health centres with sufficient number of pediatricians and where healthy children can be separated from sick children, continue to carry out vaccinations

The healthcare authorities also advised avoiding of mass gatherings, visits to shopping centers, playhouses, organised birthday parties.