SARS-CoV-2 virus outbreak and the emergency public health measures in Bosnia and Herzegovina: January – July, 2020

Mirsada  Hukic; Mirza Ponjavic; Emin Tahirovic; Almir Karabegovic; Elvir Ferhatbegovic; Maja Travar; Fadila Serdarevic

doi:10.17305/bjbms.2020.5081

Authors

Mirsada Hukic Department of Medical Sciences, Academy of Sciences and Arts of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina; Institute for Biomedical Diagnostic and Research NALAZ, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7870-4863
Mirza Ponjavic GAUSS Centre for Geospatial Research Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina; Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, International Burch University, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0124-6603
Emin Tahirovic Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, International University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina; South East European Network for Medical Research (SOVE), Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina; Epidemic Location Intelligence System (ELIS) Project of Academy of Sciences and Arts of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Almir Karabegovic GAUSS Centre for Geospatial Research Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina; Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5716-7528
Elvir Ferhatbegovic GAUSS Centre for Geospatial Research Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina; Epidemic Location Intelligence System (ELIS), Academy of Sciences and Arts of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3502-0223
Maja Travar Epidemic Location Intelligence System (ELIS), Academy of Sciences and Arts of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina; Faculty of Medicine, University of Banja Luka, Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina; University Clinical Centre of the Republic of Srpska, Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9599-1999
Fadila Serdarevic South East European Network for Medical Research (SOVE), Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina; Epidemic Location Intelligence System (ELIS), Academy of Sciences and Arts of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina; Erasmus Medical Center, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, Netherlands; Faculty of Medicine, Sarajevo School of Science and Technology, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5803-7979

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17305/bjbms.2020.5081

Keywords:

SARS-CoV-2 outbreak, COVID-19 pandemic, emergency, public health

Abstract

Between March 5^th and July 25^th, 2020, the total number of SARS-CoV-2 confirmed cases in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BH) was 10,090, corresponding to a cumulative incidence rate of 285.7/100,000 population. Demographic and clinical information on all the cases along with exposure and contact information were collected using a standardized case report form. In suspected SARS-CoV-2 cases, respiratory specimens were collected and tested by real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction assay. The dynamic of the outbreak was summarized using epidemiological curves, instantaneous reproduction number R_t, and interactive choropleth maps for geographical distribution and spread. The rate of hospitalization was 14.0%(790/5646) in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBH) and 6.2% (267/4299) in the Republic of Srpska (RS). The death rate was 2.2% (122/5646) in FBH and 3.6% in the RS (155/4299). After the authorities lifted mandatory quarantine restrictions, the instantaneous reproduction number increased from 1.13 on May 20^th to 1.72 on May 31^st. The outbreak concerns both entities, FBH and RS, and it is more pronounced in those aged 20-44 years. It is important to develop the communication and emergency plan for the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in BH, including the mechanisms to allow the ongoing notification and updates at the national level.