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Death toll from swine flu epidemic rises to 40 across Turkey
One-hundred forty-five people across Turkey are receiving treatment at various hospitals, 33 in intensive care units and nine of whom are on respirators, the statement noted. Among the 40 who died of swine flu, 19 are reported to have had chronic diseases, making them vulnerable to the H1N1 virus, while 20 did not have any risk factors that might have been aggravated by the flu, and one woman was pregnant.
While 16 out of the 40 who died of swine flu were between 25 and 44 years of age and nine were between five and 14, six victims were under age 4, four were between 45 and 65, three were above 65 and two were between 15 and 24, according to the statement.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health will begin vaccinating children under 5 years old and individuals with chronic diseases starting from Monday. The vaccinations will take place at local clinics (Sağlık Ocağı) and family health centers.
Professor Mehmet Ceylan, president of the Infectious Diseases Society of Turkey, who, along with his two children, was infected with swine flu, has said they overcame the virus without using any medicine and warned people not to panic.
Explaining that people rush to hospitals even when their noses run, Ceylan warned people against panicking, stressing that hospitals can be dangerous for those who have not really contracted swine flu.
Stating that he and his two children contracted the H1N1 virus while on vacation in the US with his family, Ceylan said they recovered from the disease in a week without even using anti-flu medicine.
According to Ceylan, who claimed that most current flu patients are actually infected with the H1N1 virus, people must approach swine flu as they do regular flu. Stressing that people must be careful in using Tamiflu, Ceylan said, “If one keeps on taking that medicine every time he/she gets sick, the virus may get stronger against the medicine, and then the medicine will no longer be beneficial,” adding that vaccination can help prevent the epidemic.
A balanced diet, increased fruit intake and plentiful fluids can help fight the flu, boosting immune systems to avoid contracting the flu, an expert warned. Sema Hospital dietician Hayrettin Mutlu said individuals should consume fruit and fruit juice and stressed that eating fruit is the best way to get sufficient vitamins and minerals. While highlighting that the most beneficial liquid against flu is water, Mutlu said mixed fruit juices, especially juices made of orange, tangerine and lemon, can take the place of additional vitamin supplements, adding that fruit juices are better at protecting against flu than herbal teas.
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