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Vol. 62 No. 3 (2026)
DOI: 10.4415/ANN_26_03_05
Original Articles
2026-07-09
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Leptospirosis outbreak in an urban setting: epidemiological and clinical characteristics of the 2025 epidemic in Sarajevo Canton, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Authors

Anes Jogunčić , Asaf Salčinović , Agnesa Porović Hodžić , Anisa Bajramović , Zlatan Hamza , Aida Pošković-Bajraktarević , Aysun Tekin , Lal Amos

Abstract

Background. Leptospirosis is an emerging public-health concern in urban settings, but data from temperate European cities remain limited. This study describes the 2025 leptospirosis outbreak in Sarajevo Canton, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Methods. A descriptive observational study was conducted using mandatory surveillance data and a supplementary epidemiological questionnaire based on the WHO Leptospirosis Surveillance Tool. Cases were classified according to the ECDC case definition.
Epidemiological, clinical, laboratory, and exposure characteristics were analysed.
Results. A total of 119 cases were recorded; 63.9% were male and the mean age was 45.8±13.2 years. The overall incidence was 2.84 per 10,000 population, highest in Novi Grad municipality. Common symptoms included weakness, fever, chills, myalgia, and headache. Elevated liver enzymes were the only independent predictor of hospitalisation.
Conclusion. The outbreak indicates a shift toward urban leptospirosis, likely linked to environmental contamination and rodent activity rather than traditional rural or floodrelated exposure.

Keywords: Leptospirosis, Outbreak, urban environment, Sarajevo, epidemiology

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Authors

Anes Jogunčić - Department of Epidemiology, Public Health Institute of Canton Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6926-0079

Asaf Salčinović - Department of Epidemiology, Public Health Institute of Canton Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina https://orcid.org/0009-0000-3248-5231

Agnesa Porović Hodžić - Department for Environmental Protection and Improvement, Public Health Institute of Canton Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina https://orcid.org/0009-0001-1286-3984

Anisa Bajramović - Department of Epidemiology, Public Health Institute of Canton Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Zlatan Hamza - Department for Environmental Protection and Improvement, Public Health Institute of Canton Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina https://orcid.org/0009-0005-4356-5452

Aida Pošković-Bajraktarević - Department of Epidemiology, Public Health Institute of Canton Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Aysun Tekin - Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1891-2118

Lal Amos - Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0021-2033

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Copyright

Copyright (c) 2026 Istituto Superiore di Sanità

How to Cite
Jogunčić, A., Salčinović, A., Porović Hodžić, A., Bajramović, A., Hamza, Z., Pošković-Bajraktarević, A., Tekin, A., & Amos, L. (2026). Leptospirosis outbreak in an urban setting: epidemiological and clinical characteristics of the 2025 epidemic in Sarajevo Canton, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Annali dell’Istituto Superiore Di Sanità, 62(3), 224–231. https://doi.org/10.4415/ANN_26_03_05
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