prof. Dr. Mehmet Ceyhan: These vaccinations must be done immediately

SAFAKNA TURKEY – According to official data, the number of buildings destroyed as a result of two earthquakes with epicenters in Pazardzhik and Elbistan was 6,444, and the number of buildings that were declared as “demolished” was 11,302. Given that the Pazardzhik earthquake occurred at 04:00: 17 in the morning, with a simple calculation, it turns out that tens of thousands of people are under the rubble, even if we take into account that there are 5 houses and 4 people in each building. in every house.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a Level 3 emergency in Turkey, the highest level since two major earthquakes. The organization stressed that earthquakes can cause health problems that affect many people over the long term, as well as their short-term and immediate health impacts.

Today is exactly one week since the earthquake. It was reported that, despite the cold weather, a putrid odor began to increase in some areas within a few days. The most expressed concern is the emergence of an epidemic. IYI party leader Meral Aksener, pointing specifically to the garbage, said: “If it cannot be collected, it must be poured with lime, otherwise rodents will start. We experienced this during the Izmit earthquake. I speak from experience,” he said.

He told this to Mehmet Ceyhan Sözçü, one of the most important experts on the subject in Turkey.

prof. Dr. Mehmet Ceyhan’s startling findings regarding the possible health problems that could occur in the 10 provinces in the earthquake zone are as follows:

“NO DISEASE COMES DIRECTLY FROM THE BODY”

“There can be no question of the transmission of any disease directly from the corpses under the rubble. But there are many animals, there are dogs… They can dismember corpses. So if any microbe, bacterium, spreads in this way into the environment, it can affect it, and the coldness in the air delays it. It’s not a big danger.”

“LOADS WILL SHOW”

“We know from previous earthquakes, we saw it with the Golcuk earthquake… They have not yet appeared, but now, when there is a famine, rodents will appear… Rats, mice… They can bite people.

This can happen in large numbers as infrastructure breaks down during earthquakes. We very often encounter rodent bites.”

Of course, the first thing that comes to mind is rabies. There is no risk of rabies infection from rodents in Turkey. However, there are certain antibacterial treatments that we recommend for rodent bites. We’re starting, but the real risk of getting rabies comes from stray dogs.

Since they cannot hide, if they find a secluded place, they can be bitten by a bat. It could be rabies. Their bites pose a risk of contracting rabies.

These events are more common in earthquake zones than in normal areas. This is why we recommend pre-exposure vaccination, but there are problems with pre-exposure and post-exposure vaccination.

So they must do everything they can to get the rabies vaccine. Even if you look at the number of people living in this area and think that they are all at risk, before you look at tenders from abroad or something like that … Rabies vaccination must be provided, at least 20 percent of them”.

“TETANIUS IS WHAT WE FEAR MORE”

“Secondly, one of the things we fear most during an earthquake is tetanus. Because for all the wounded who were pulled out from under these rubble … If it turns out that there will be no tetanus vaccine in the next 5 years, then one of the first things to do as soon as it is removed is to vaccinate against tetanus.”

“THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH SEALED THE PRODUCTION OF VACCINES”

“But, unfortunately, vaccines cannot be produced in Turkey due to some deceptions. Two months ago, the Ministry of Health went and sealed the vaccine production facility that is produced in Turkey, which they are proud of as a domestic, national vaccine that we produce in Turkey in the first place… because this place is not suitable…”

“KEYMEN CANNOT BRING THE VACCINE TO TURKEY”

“They entrusted this work to Keymen, who brought Sinovac … They were going to bring vaccines for tetanus, diphtheria and hepatitis B from India. Since he was unable to give birth at the promised date, there is a serious problem in Turkey with vaccines against diphtheria, tetanus and hepatitis B. So there are no such vaccines.

Now, if cases of tetanus begin to appear here, both tetanus and rabies are very lethal… It is very difficult to save a patient once diagnosed…”

“ALL KINDS OF DISEASES WILL CONTACT WITH EACH OTHER IN A TENT AND IN A CLOSED ENVIRONMENT”

“On the other hand, there was an earthquake at such a time… The earthquake happened when we were talking about the fact that viruses that cause respiratory infections, such as influenza, covid and RSV, which have increased this year, have increased greatly and people have become sick with these diseases much more frequently than in previous years.

Now the atmosphere is cold and the families of these people are not scattered, we keep these people in large tents, halls, collectively. These people will infect each other with all sorts of diseases through their breath.”

“THE POPULATION IN THE REGION SHOULD BE VASCULATED”

“For this reason, people in the region need to get the flu shot first. To prevent the spread of Covid, it is necessary to complete the vaccination of those who do not have a Covid vaccine.

Planning for this shouldn’t be left to the people out there. If someone wants to come and say, let me get vaccinated, no one will go, because people are sick there. Ruins nearby. This man cannot think of a vaccine. The Ministry of Health should think about it.”

“TETA VACCINE MUST BE DELIVERED TO RESCUE TEAM IMMEDIATELY”

“On the other hand, the health of relief teams, medical teams and search and rescue teams in the region must be protected. Because when they get sick, all work will be interrupted. Therefore, the shortcomings of the teams must be filled.

Everyone on the rescue team needs an emergency tetanus vaccine. As far as I learned from the ministry, they are waiting for a vaccine donation from somewhere. But at the moment there is no vaccine.

Rescuers are injured. The places where tetanus is most infected are soil, cement, and especially iron… It can be transmitted even with minor injuries.

The rescue team must be vaccinated immediately.”