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Swine flu epidemic on the rise across Turkey, new measures taken
The number of people infected by H1N1 virus (swine flu) -- which has exceeded 1,100 since the first case was discovered in May -- continue to rise, prompting officials to intensify preventive efforts against the spread of the virus. Twenty students have been found to be infected by the virus in three districts of the Aegean province of Muğla, the Muğla provincial education director announced yesterday.
He said there is no evidence of swine flu in Muğla’s city center so far. Twelve people were also diagnosed as having the H1N1 virus in the southeastern province of Şanlıurfa. Officials said five in the eastern province of Ağrı, three in the Central Anatolian province of Çorum and five in the eastern province of Van have also been found to be carrying the virus. The Health Ministry announced in a statement that eight out of 1,108 swine flu cases have been treated in hospitals, adding that two patients are receiving treatment in an intensive care unit.
As outbreaks continue to occur, officials have stepped up measures to prevent the further spread of the virus.
In the Central Anatolian province of Konya, where three swine flu cases have been reported thus far, health personnel at Numune Hospital were urged to wear face masks. Public transportation vehicles in various provinces are being disinfected against the virus, with the İstanbul and Ankara municipalities announcing that were taking this action in accelerating pre-emptive steps against the virus. Bolu Provincial Health Director Recep Sezer announced yesterday that all schools in the province will be disinfected over the weekend. The Diyarbakır Municipality plans to inform locals about swine flu by distributing leaflets on taking precautions against the virus as well as detailing the symptoms of swine flu.
Swine flu vaccines, which are being sent out to the 81 provinces as no adverse effects were observed during tests, have started to arrive in many areas. Health workers are to be the first to receive vaccinations, followed by pilgrims who will embark on the hajj over the next few weeks. The İzmir provincial health director has said that they plan to start vaccinating from today onwards. Students, whose vaccination is set to start in November, will be vaccinated once parents sign to give their permission.
In the meantime, a 28-year-old man who had been receiving treatment in the western province of Manisa on suspicion of having H1N1 influenza died on Tuesday. While he was suspected to have died of swine flu, the Health Ministry announced yesterday that the man died of a pulmonary infection according to an autopsy.
Y.D., who was hospitalized at Manisa State Hospital on Monday in critical condition died on Tuesday evening. He was reportedly in close contact with a person carrying the swine flu virus last week and was suspected of carrying the virus. Turkey’s first and thus far only swine flu fatality occurred last Saturday in Ankara when Mustafa Güneş died at Ankara’s Atatürk Sanatorium, where he had been working and subsequently receiving treatment.
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