The epidemiological situation in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina regarding COVID-19 is continuously closely monitored and evaluated, and currently does not threaten the functioning of the health system, confirmed Dr. Rozalija Nedić from the Department for Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases of the Institute of Public Health of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“Sentinel surveillance (active surveillance) based on selected population samples will soon be conducted on severe acute respiratory diseases in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (influenza, respiratory syncytial virus and SARS-CoV-2), and we will report the collected data and recommendations to the profession and citizens. All persons suspected of having COVID-19 are recommended to be tested and treated in accordance with the doctor’s recommendations,” Nedic said for Fena news agency.
According to him, the World Health Organization (WHO) regularly evaluates new variants of SARS-CoV-2. A new variant, known as EG.5, has recently been identified.
“Based on the available evidence, WHO has assessed that the risk posed by the EG.5 variant to public health is low. EG.5 is a descendant of XBB.1.9.2 and was first reported in February this year. Symptoms of infection with that variant are high fever, headache, runny nose and cough. Elderly people and people with a weakened immune system are at greater risk of developing more severe forms of the disease. We were not informed that EG.5 was registered in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina,” Nedic emphasized.
For Comirnaty XBB.1.5, the latest version of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine against COVID-19 that was approved by the European Commission earlier this month for the fall and winter immunization campaigns, Dr. Nedić says it will help maintain optimal protection against COVID-19 caused by other variants, as well as Omikron XBB.1.5.
“That vaccine was developed to target Omicron XBB in accordance with the recommendations of EMA and ECDC, as well as other international regulatory bodies and the World Health Organization. Because Omicron XBB.1.5 is closely related to other variants currently circulating in worldwide, the vaccine is expected to help maintain optimal protection against COVID-19 caused by other variants, as well as Omikron XBB.1.5. We have no knowledge that the said vaccine is registered in Bosnia and Herzegovina,” Nedic said.
