Turkish Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (KLİMİK) President Prof. Dr. Serap Şimşek Yavuz pointed out that the number of applications to the emergency services increased 3-4 times due to upper respiratory tract infections and warned about the use of masks and ventilation of indoor environments. prof. Dr. Yavuz, Minister of Health Dr. Regarding Fahrettin Koca’s statement that triple PCR tests that can test Kovid, RSV and influenza at the same time will be used, he said, “If we can detect which virus is the cause at an early stage, hospitalization and deaths can be prevented.”
EMERGENCY APPLICATIONS INCREASED 3-4 TIMES
Stating that viral infections started to be seen before the season of this year, Prof. Dr. Yavuz pointed out that the number of applications to emergency services has increased 3-4 times in recent days. Emphasizing that hospitalizations in pediatric intensive care units have started to increase, Prof. Dr. Yavuz said, “There is Kovid among the factors that cause viral upper respiratory tract infections, there is influenza (influenza) and there are other cold-causing viruses, hundreds of viruses are actually in circulation. As expected, viruses entered the circulation early this year. Other common cold factors also affect people, especially in children. There are news from the pediatric intensive care units, the numbers are really high, and even the occupancy of the pediatric intensive care units is quite high,” he said.
TRIPLE DANGER, COVID, RSV AND FLU
prof. Dr. Yavuz said: “Kovid, influenza and RSV. These can cause undesirable bad results or be fatal in certain risk groups (small children and those with underlying diseases). He said: “The number of patients has increased 3-4 times in emergencies due to the increase in all of these. We are just entering the winter, the weather has just started to get colder, the number of patients will increase exponentially as they stay indoors for longer.”
“THEY ARE ALL MIXING EACH OTHER, DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND FROM THE SYMPTOM”
prof. Dr. Yavuz said, “All of them can cause weakness and malaise. It is not possible to understand which flu, which RSV, which is Kovid, by looking at the symptoms. However, if we start both Kovid and flu at an early stage, we have effective antivirals. Especially for those in the risk group, if we can start these drugs at an early stage, hospitalization We are able to prevent deaths and deaths. Therefore, knowing the factor allows us to start treatment in the early stages of the disease. There is no such thing as a cold that will heal on its own, and that it will pass very well. We normally had a surveillance system before the pandemic, run by the Ministry of Health. My other problem was that we were able to closely monitor the number of hospital admissions and hospitalizations caused by road viruses, as well as the mortality rates in children and adults, just like in Kovid. With the pandemic, the surveillance system was severely damaged and stopped. When I look at it, these observations are at the beginning of October. a Since October, there has been a very serious early-onset viral respiratory tract infection outbreaks in Istanbul. We do not know which virus was effective, what is happening. We urgently need to return to these observations. B can also be by testing. This triple respiratory panel test, recently announced by the Minister, is very important in this respect,” he said.
“NEW TRIPLE TESTS WILL ENSURE US TO SEE AHEAD”
Explaining that triple respiratory panel tests have been used for a long time and that multiple tests including Kovid have been used in some countries for the last 1 year, Prof. Dr. Yavuz continued his words as follows: “They are called multiplex PCR tests. They also have multiple panels, but the most important thing for us at the moment is to monitor these three viruses. Because these three viruses pose the greatest danger among hundreds of viruses at the moment. When this comes into use, we test them all at once. It will be more economical and we will have the chance to do more. There is a very urgent need right now, we really lack a lot because we do not know what the cause of the diseases is. The Kovid test is not done properly anymore. I am very happy for such a development. The triple test is also a test performed with the PCR method, three viruses can be looked at at the same time in the sample taken from the patient.
“MASK WEAR IN CLASSROOMS, VENTILATION IS CRITICAL”
Explaining that vitamin supplements and herbal preparations, the use of which has increased considerably during the Kovid pandemic, do not work to protect against current epidemics, Prof. Dr. Yavuz noted that it is necessary to return to the use of masks, especially in classrooms, public transportation and crowded places, and ended his words by warning: “People used vitamins, minerals, herbal supplements, etc. It is very effective to prevent all these viruses. Masks should definitely be used, especially in public environments, in public transport. I recommend wearing masks preferably in classrooms at this time. Because there are too many viruses circulating among children, and by preventing its distribution, we can prevent children from falling behind from school. Good ventilation is also very critical. Especially the ventilation of the classrooms is of critical importance. Again, those who are defined as free of charge should definitely get the flu vaccine in this period. In the undefined groups, anyone aged 6 months and over can get the vaccine (by paying the fee). Influenza vaccine should be given to prevent infections. Hand washing is also one of the simplest precautions to be taken. Frequent washing of hands prevents cold factors such as RSV to a great extent. Most importantly, people who are sick should never go to work or school. Because that’s how it spreads and the numbers multiply.”
(DHA)