Crisis headquarters: In the FBiH, there is currently a slight increase in the number of patients with COVID-19, in the EU much more

06.07.2022.

In the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the number of patients with COVID-19 increased slightly compared to the previous week, and there is no reason to panic, but in the 27 countries of the European Union, the increase was 40 percent, so the mortality rate of patients, especially people over the age of 65, increased, it was said. to journalists in Sarajevo after the session of the Crisis Staff of the Federal Ministry of Health.

Monitoring of the spread of the infection continues in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. According to the member of the Crisis Staff, epidemiologist Sanjin Musa, in the last seven days, 372 new cases were registered in FBiH, 38 patients were hospitalized and one died

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The increase in the number of patients is a reflection of the situation in Europe, primarily the appearance of subtypes of the omicron strain of the coronavirus BA4 and BA5. There is also re-infection of people who were previously infected with the BA1 subvariant, according to Musa.

The Crisis Staff continues to recommend vaccination, and the epidemiologist states that about 30 percent of the population in FBiH has been vaccinated so far. We are talking about vaccines procured by the Federation, and including others, the total number reaches about 50 percent. Seven percent of people were vaccinated with the third dose, and revaccination with the fourth dose began in May of this year, according to Musa.

Goran Čerkez, also a member of the Crisis Staff, points out that the Federation of BiH is not currently considering special epidemiological measures for the population. The clinical pictures of the infected are relatively milder, but at the Headquarters session today, the measures for health institutions were extended for 60 days, which are steps similar to those in the European Union.

There is no need to spread panic, emphasizes Čerkez, but recommends that chronic patients over the age of 65 be vaccinated with the fourth dose.
He also spoke about the epidemic of monkeypox and emphasized that there is not a single confirmed case in Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, since the first appearance in Europe, the authorities in the Federation have prepared an answer. Tests have also been procured and distribution will begin next week, he said.

Unlike COVID-19, which was a complete unknown at the time of its appearance, this disease is known, it appeared in the seventies of the last century, and residents can find out about the details on the websites of the Ministry of Health and the Institute of Public Health of the FBiH. Therefore, those two situations cannot even be compared, Čerkez concludes.

Although there is currently no need to introduce special measures for the population against COVID-19, people with chronic diseases are still not prevented from wearing protective masks in places of large gatherings of people based on already learned patterns of behavior. Not everything has to be an order but also a responsibility to oneself, adds this member of the Crisis Staff.

Answering the journalist’s questions, he denied that even summer viruses in this period of the year are sometimes referred to as coronavirus infection. This is only discussed if it is about confirmed cases of illness from COVID 19.

Asked about the procurement and destruction of vaccines, Čerkez replied that “we should not spread scandals and panic where there are none” because the whole of Europe destroys vaccines; some of the countries procured them as much as four doses per capita.

Certain quantities will certainly still be destroyed, although the manufacturer Pfizer has extended the shelf life of its vaccines to 12 months, stated Čerkez.
Sanjin Musa said that the Institute of Public Health currently has 420,000 vaccines and that around 500,000 have been destroyed so far.

Source: www.fena.ba