Social media posts by residents of the Bosnian capital Sarajevo show that the Miljacka River, which runs through the city centre, is full of rodents and garbage, and the country’s health regulators warn that this has led to a worrying increase in cases of rat-borne diseases, reports the British broadcaster BBC.
Sarajevo residents have also shared photos on social media showing overflowing garbage containers and illegal dumps.
There have also been complaints about the authorities’ failure to clear public areas, including children’s playgrounds, of dead animals.
All this creates a wonderful environment for rats, but the situation is getting worse for residents, writes the broadcaster.
Health experts say the growing rat problem in Sarajevo is the cause of the spread of rat-borne diseases. This week, 12 cases of leptospirosis were detected in just one day at the country’s largest hospital and several more cases were reported at the beginning of the month.
Leptospirosis, also known as “rat fever”, is spread by water or soil contaminated with rat urine or faeces. It can cause symptoms such as headaches, muscle aches and, in severe cases, pulmonary bleeding, jaundice or kidney failure.
According to the BBC, Sarajevo did nothing for two years to impose any pest control.
Now Sarajevo officials have declared an epidemic, allowing emergency measures to begin, including long overdue clean-up work.
Additional municipal staff have been deployed to carry out “spring cleaning” in public areas across the city, and extra waste collection and removal is being organised. Schools have been instructed to clean up playgrounds, cut grass and check basements for rats.
Officials claim that a failed tender for pest control and sanitation has led to the city being overrun by rats and stray dogs.
Enis Hasanovic, Minister of Health of Sarajevo Canton, described the situation as “not a health crisis, but a communal crisis” because local authorities have failed to meet important hygiene requirements.
However, a former hospital director has warned that the situation could worsen, pointing out that the high number of rats in the city could cause diseases such as hantavirus.
Sarajevo has been somewhat lucky: although untreated leptospirosis can be fatal and mortality rates are high in severe cases, all cases reported so far during the current outbreak have been mild.