As the weather warms up and the countdown to summer vacation begins; It was stated that the Covid-19 virus started to spread with a new variant called ‘flirt’. Chest Disease Specialist Prof. stated that the new variant of Covid-19, which has been reported especially from America in recent days, has spread towards Europe. Dr. Şevket Özkaya made remarkable warnings before the holiday.
“A NEW MUTANT VIRUS HAS EMERGED: FLIRT”
Prof. Dr. Şevket Özkaya said, “We know that almost 1 in 3 cases were infected with this new virus mutant. This virus mutant was the new mutant of the ‘omicron’ family. A new mutant virus emerged by adding the initials of the names they received from the mutations it underwent. Its name is flirt.
It has not been detected yet in our country. We know that this epidemic, which started in Europe and America, will come to our country sooner or later. America and Europe are a little more relaxed about this because they don’t think it will spread too much since they are outdoors in the summer months. Our country is a little different in terms of geographical location.
“WE KNOW IT WILL SPREAD IN OUR COUNTRY TOO”
With the arrival of summer, holidays abroad will begin. “We know that it will spread in our country after the holidays, together with our citizens coming from the pilgrimage, due to mass activities such as weddings and holidays brought by the summer months,” he said.
“CANCER PATIENTS ARE AT RISK”
Pointing out that the Flirt variant is a variant of the omicron family that is the most common in Turkey, Özkaya said, “We know the virus, the disease and its treatment. There is no need to test. Of course, this variant will come to our country. Flirt causes prolonged complaints in people. One day you are fine, the next One day you feel bad, one day you wake up fine, the next day you start to have joint pain and fatigue.
“CASES STARTED TO COME IN LAST DAYS”
Your cough just doesn’t go away. It fluctuates as if flirting, true to its name. Recently, the cases we saw especially at the beginning of Covid-19 have started to come. At first, we were seeing a lot of lung involvement. We have seen almost no lung involvement since the beginning of 2024, but cases have started to come in these last days. Cancer patients are especially at risk. People who receive chemotherapy and have low body resistance present with lung involvement. “We do not recommend that people, especially those returning from overseas holidays and pilgrimages, come together with the elderly and people with low body resistance,” he said.
“IT WILL MAKE ITS MARK ON THIS SUMMER”
Giving an example on the lungs of a cancer patient, Özkaya said, “We see that the virus easily descends into the lungs because he is over 60 years old and receives chemotherapy. “We think this is the new virus that will leave its mark on this summer,” he said.
(UAV)
