TUBERCULOSIS REMAINS PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE IN FEDERATION

SARAJEVO, OCTOBER 8 /SRNA/ - Tuberculosis remains a public health problem in FBiH, the Federal Institute for Public Health said.

According to the Institute's report, 261 cases of tuberculosis were registered in FBiH last year, corresponding to an incidence rate of 12.2 per 100,000 people. A year earlier, 315 cases were recorded, or 14.7 per 100,000 people. "In FBiH, the BCG vaccine is administered at birth. It provides the best protection for children against the most severe forms of tuberculosis, particularly tuberculous meningitis and miliary tuberculosis," the Institute pointed out. It said these forms of the disease can have very serious consequences, particularly for newborns and male children, adding that BCG vaccination coverage in FBiH stood at 93 per cent last year. The Institute said it was continuing to monitor the situation and was in contact with institutions in the country and in Croatia to establish all relevant facts concerning the BCG vaccine from Bulgaria. "We are aware of the concerns among both professionals and the general public, and steps are being taken to verify the information and assess the safety signal from Croatia," the FBiH Institute for Public Health said. Since Tuesday, October 6, the Institute has temporarily suspended the distribution and administration of the BCG vaccine produced by Bulgaria's BB-NCIPD. The decision was taken as a precaution and pending further investigation following reports of adverse reactions after immunization in Croatia.