title: Sanitation of the liberated territories in Croatia after the Storm campaign: the example of Lika-Senj County.
abstract: More than 6,000 km2 of the central and southern areas of the Republic of Croatia were liberated by the Storm campaign, August 4 to 7, 1995. On August 8, 1995, the Ministry of Health sent expert teams to the newly liberated areas, to ensure the basic conditions for the displaced persons to return and live there. To describe the public health measures taken we used the examples of Lika-Senj County (3,746 km2 and 71,215 population). By October 1, 1995, 50 bodies, killed in action, had been detected, pathologically and forensically examined, and then buried. Two hundred thirty-three mostly elderly and sick persons were admitted to the reception center in Gospić; 93 of them returned to their homes, 133 were accommodated with their relatives and friends, and 7 were referred for treatment (4 of them died). Two hundred ten cattle carcasses were buried using adequate sanitation measures, whereas 5,575 sheep, 3,138 head of horned cattle, 298 head of hoofed animals, and 300 head of other cattle were caught alive. The procedures of disinfection, disinfestation, and deodorization were performed in 720 apartments, 2 hotels, 3 schools, 1 kindergarten, 1 health care unit, 1 sports hall, and 5 shops. The main water pump was cleared of mines and partially repaired, whereas some 20 water supply facilities were placed under surveillance. Three food depots were found and properly treated. The entire territory was closely observed for possible occurrence of infectious disease.
authors.affiliation: Zagreb Institute of Public Health, Croatia.
authors.lastname: Puntarić
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Krajcar
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bosnir
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Prgomet
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brkjacić
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ribić
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Margaretić
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lovrić
mesh_terms: D017523:Croatia; D006801:Humans; D011634:Public Health; D012499:Sanitation; D014857:Warfare; D014881:Water Supply