The Institute for Health and Food Safety Zenica (INZ) reported the first case of death from measles in the area of the Zenica-Doboj canton – confirmed doctor Alisa Kozica, head of the Department for Epidemiology and Hygiene of INZ.
“It is about a male person, born in 2006 from Zenica, hospitalized in the Zenica Cantonal Hospital (KBZ) – said doctor Kozica.
In the period from January 1 to July 19 of this year, the total number of measles patients is 1,218 cases, according to reports received about infectious diseases in the area of ZDK. The most reported cases were in Zenica – 487, Kakanj – 443, and Visoko – 185. Today, the competent Ministry declared an epidemic in this canton.
“The exponential growth of measles infection continues, which means that one infected child can infect forty (40) other children. For the same period, vaccination coverage of the target age group with the MRP vaccine in the ZDK area is 37 percent, while coverage of other age groups (supplementary immunizations) is 46 percent. In order to prevent an epidemic, it is necessary in every settlement to try to vaccinate at least 95 percent of the children who have not been vaccinated,” points out doctor.
The Institute for Health and Food Safety in Zenica once again warned parents that immunization is the only epidemiological measure to prevent diseases and the development of complications, including death from infectious diseases.
“Examples of good practice of parents from other cities of the Zenica-Doboj canton should be used, who achieved a high coverage of immunization and thus acquired a large collective immunity, and as a result have a lower number of patients,” they say from the INZ.
