Source:
BBC | Based on reporting by Guy De Launey, Balkans Correspondent, June 2025
Sarajevo is facing a growing public health crisis as a surge in rat-borne diseases, particularly leptospirosis, has prompted local authorities to declare an epidemic and launch emergency sanitation efforts.
Residents of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s capital have taken to social media to share disturbing images of rats swimming in the Miljacka River and overflowing garbage bins across the city. The situation has been exacerbated by illegal dumping and the failure to remove dead animals from public spaces — including children’s playgrounds.
A Perfect Storm for Disease
Health experts are sounding the alarm over the rapid spread of leptospirosis, a bacterial infection transmitted through water or soil contaminated with rat urine or feces. In just one day this week, Sarajevo’s largest hospital reported 12 new cases.
Symptoms of leptospirosis range from fever and muscle pain to severe complications like lung bleeding, jaundice, and kidney failure. While no severe cases have been reported yet, the potential for escalation remains high.
Emergency Measures Underway
In response, Sarajevo authorities have declared an epidemic, enabling the deployment of emergency measures:
- City-wide disinfection of public areas
- Increased garbage collection
- School cleanups, including playgrounds and basements
- Deployment of additional municipal workers for sanitation
This marks a dramatic shift from the past two years, during which no pest control measures were implemented due to a failed tender process. The result: a city overrun not only by rats but also by stray dogs.
A Communal Crisis
Sarajevo Canton Health Minister Enis Hasanovic described the situation as “not a health crisis, but a communal crisis,” blaming municipal failures in basic hygiene services.
However, others warn the health risks are real and growing. Sebija Izetbegović, a former hospital director and current member of the Sarajevo Canton Assembly, warned that the city’s rat population is now so large and well-fed that hantavirus outbreaks could follow.
A Wake-Up Call for Urban Health
This crisis highlights the critical link between urban sanitation and public health. With leptospirosis carrying a mortality rate of over 50% in severe cases, Sarajevo’s current outbreak is a stark reminder of what happens when basic hygiene infrastructure is neglected.