Turkish Medical Association: There are No Coronavirus Cases in Turkey

Disinfection work at İstanbul's Marmaray commuter rail line. (Photo: AA)

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Amid rumors that the Health Ministry hides coronavirus cases, the Turkish Medical Association (TTB) has confirmed that no cases have been seen in Turkey yet.

The ministry regularly releases statements on the outbreak regarding the measures taken and whether a case was found in Turkey. Minister Koca said yesterday (March 5) that all the 1,363 coronavirus tests conducted in Turkey were negative.

What is saddening is "the mistrust among the citizens against the Health Ministry," TTB Chair Prof. Dr. Sinan Adıyaman told bianet.

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He said that the TTB has been closely monitoring the situation and the TTB Covid-19 Monitoring Group receives information from medical chambers from all provinces.

Coronavirus has been found in four of eight neighbors of Turkey, which also fuels rumors as people ask, "How can't it come to Turkey?"

"Definitely it is thought to exist in Turkey and some rumors are spreading. For example, there has been a rumor for a week that "29 Mayıs Hospital is in quarantine. But that hospital continues its routine work," Prof. Adıyaman said.

'If there were coronavirus cases, it would be evident'

"There are not any cases right now. If there were cases, if it spread, it would be evident. The patients would be gathered in one place and deaths related to [coronavirus] would be seen. We are not hearing about this from anywhere. We have never received information from our physician colleagues in this manner.

"But unfortunately, what is saddening is that there is mistrust among citizens in Turkish society. The Health Ministry should evaluate this."

'Countries have to notify WHO'

"The TTB has a Covid-19 Monitoring Group. There is a two-percent death rate in the world. Right now, there are no cases in Turkey but it will most likely happen. Two or three deaths may occur. Because it is all around us.

"But the number of people who died of influenza right now is 20 times more than [coronavirus]. Who are at risk the most? Those above 65 years of age and have a chronic disease. Two percent of the people who have a heart, liver and kidney failure and diabetes lose their lives."

Stressing that countries have to notify the World Health Organization about any emerging case, Adıyaman said, "There are many valuable scientists at the Health Ministry. They wouldn't hide it anyway. We are also in direct touch with Europe and WHO. How many cases are there in which country, how many people have died... They are notified day by day."

'It will turn into a flu-like disease'

Covid-19 will become normal like influenza in a few months, Adıyaman said.

"There is no need to panic really. After three or four months, this will become something normal like influenza. It will become normal because the air temperatures have already begun to rise. When temperatures rise, people go out. Because this disease is infected through droplet infection, it will diminish when people begin to stay separate.

"[It is] spreading in the world but the death rate is not increasing. In China, which is very crowded, it increased to two, two-and-a-half percent. In the west, it is about one percent. The death rate is not too high. There is no need to panic.

"This is not something like plague or smallpox, where everyone dies, cities collapse... If you consider risk groups, 20 times more people die of influenza. Most deaths [from coronavirus] are in China with 3,041, in Italy with 148 and in Iran with 2018."

The need for more diagnostic centers

It is a problem that all coronavirus tests are carried out in the capital Ankara and more diagnostic centers are needed, according to Adıyaman.

"Right now, everything that needs to be done about this job is being done, except for one thing. These tests should be carried out in more than one center. Normally, the result of the test comes in three hours, but it takes time for blood to be taken from the patient and comes to Ankara through a cold chain.

"It is very important to get an early and urgent diagnosis. [A center] will be opened in İstanbul according to what we have heard, but other than that, it should also [be opened] places with tourist density such as İzmir, Antalya and Van." (AÖ/VK)