Prof. Dr. Important warnings from Serap Şimşek Yavuz about monkeypox – Sözcü Newspaper

The whole world is afraid of the virus disease ‘Mpox’, commonly known as monkeypox, which the World Health Organization (WHO) declared as a ‘global emergency’ for the second time after 2022.

While the Ministry of Health reported that no case has been seen in Turkey yet, the President of the Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Society of Turkey (KLİMİK), Prof. Dr. Serap Şimşek Yavuz confirmed that Turkey should be given a new vaccine against the Mpox virus, to which the smallpox vaccine also protects. The smallpox vaccine has not been used in our country since the 1980s, after the disease ended permanently.

Prof. Dr. Yavuz said, “15 thousand cases were reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2024. There are about 500 deaths. In 2022, in the epidemic that first spread to the world, the death rate was below 1 percent. Here, 5 percent “There is a vaccine, a vaccine that we used before for smallpox. Since there is no vaccine in Turkey at the moment, the vaccine must be given,” he said.

Dr. Dr. Dr. Yavuz said, “This disease is seen mostly in the Congo, not the whole African continent. Whoever has contact with that department, if they come with relevant symptoms, that patient should be considered. “

THE FIRST GLOBAL EMERGENCY NOTICE IS MADE IN 2022

Dr. Dr. Dr. Serap Şimşek Yavuz, regarding risk groups; He said that those born before 1980 and those who received the small pox vaccine are more resistant to the possible disease.

Prof. Dr. Yavuz said, “It is necessary to follow carefully, not everyone who comes from Africa, but only those who come from the area where the disease is spreading and those with symptoms. ”

Prof. Dr. Yavuz continued his words by pointing out that the name of the disease should be Mpox, not smallpox:

* “First of all, the name of the disease is no longer ‘Monkey Pox’ but ‘Mpox’ disease. Because the use of animal and regional names in disease names can cause some discrimination. It is a virus that it has been known since 1950. It used to be transmitted from animals to humans by a virus similar to the causative agent of the disease known as smallpox, and could be transmitted from monkeys or rodents.

* In Africa, about 100 cases were reported every year until 2022. However, in 2022, Mpox cases began to be seen in people who had no contact with Africa, around the world, in America, England , Turkey, South America. An emergency has been declared in this epidemic. Because this is the first time that the virus has spread outside of Africa, because it is widespread in more than one country. ”

The new type of virus is spread faster, the death rate is increased

Insisting that the disease spread widely in certain risk groups at that time, Prof. Dr. Yavuz continued with the following words:

* “Cases were also seen in Turkey at that time. However, this epidemic, which appeared after leaving Africa in 2022, was brought under control through methods such as surveillance of dangerous groups and the vaccine, along with a milder disease It was usually on the skin or where the disease was, the epidemic ended when it was brought under control.

* However, a new disease has started in Africa, Congo, and Central Africa since the middle of 2023, with a different type of virus, that is, a virus with a slightly higher mortality rate. This Mpox epidemic, unlike the 2022 epidemic, spread a little faster in the African region. It spread very quickly, especially in the Congo, and it spread to the surrounding countries. There are 15 thousand cases and about 500 deaths in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2024 alone. In the epidemic that first spread to the world in 2022, the death rate was less than 1 percent. “We’re talking about a 5 percent mortality rate here. “

“12 cases reported from Turkey in 2022”

Dr. Dr. Yavuz said, “There is currently no case identified as a result of this strain, that is, the strain we call Lineage 1B, in countries outside of Africa. to warn countries to take the necessary measures and make preparations. ” “An emergency declaration has been made. but as far as we learned from the international community, 12 cases are said to be reported from Turkey in the 2022 epidemic,” he said.

“There is no pandemic, we don’t think there will be a shutdown”

Prof. Dr. Yavuz said that they had a meeting with the Minister of Health in the morning and that he said that no Mpox cases have been found yet in Turkey in 2024. Dr. Dr. Yavuz said the following in his speech:

* “There is no issue in Turkey at the moment, but it is already a global crisis; the reason for declaring a public health emergency is to say that there is a chance of infection, take precautions. . A lockout situation is out of the question and we don’t think there will be one. In other words, there is not so much in covid. Therefore, it is not considered that such a high number of cases will be reached due to the spread of close contact.

Pay attention to contact closure and hygiene and shared items

Pointing out that there is a close connection in the way the disease is transmitted, said Prof. Dr. Yavuz continued with the following words:

* “It is transmitted when there is close contact with the mucosa or skin lesions of a sick person. In fact, it is not a virus that is transmitted very easily. There is no risk in public transport, but it is very rare. So, we don’t have to worry about contact with these wounds Again, these wounds can be drawn with some things, like beds and medicines, in the same house as the sick person.

“MPOX should be considered for those who have contact with the area and present with relevant symptoms”

Insisting that the risk of contracting the disease from people without symptoms is very low, Dr. Dr. Yavuz said, “In Covid, for example, even if a person was not infected or had no symptoms, sometimes a person would get the virus and become infected without showing symptoms. Such risk in this disease is very low. Therefore, we must In other words, if there is a sick person, this sick person is also at risk. which is currently seen in the Congo to use personal protective equipment for those who will be in contact with the sick person, the patient and the caregivers should wear masks, the patient should stay in an isolated room, and people who have unprotected contact with the patient should be identified and vaccinated,” he said.

“The spread potential is thought to be high”

The Professor said that the virus in 2022 remains to be seen. Dr. Yavuz gave the following warnings:

* “The new strain, which is the reason for declaring the new crisis, is only in the Congo, but it is considered to have a high potential to spread. In fact, WHO declares a global public health emergency when it sees a threat to the population. Right now, there will be a panic for Turkey. We can say that such a situation will not exist for a moment, and the Ministry of Health says that it is not yet.

* So, there is a possibility, we have to be careful because this disease has the potential to spread. We need to develop diagnostic methods. Diagnostic facilities were provided in Turkey during the previous epidemic in 2022. These diagnostic opportunities must continue. If there is an appropriate clinical picture in suspicious and dangerous groups, we must send a sample. Their contact tracing must be done. Risk groups must get the vaccine.”

“Preparations of related medicines must be made”

Prof. pointed out. Dr. Yavuz concluded his words as follows:

* “There is one vaccine for this. It is a vaccine that we used before for smallpox, it is also effective against this, this vaccine must be given. If it happens again and we begin to see more patients, the appropriate medicines must be ready. There is a vaccine, this is the smallpox vaccine.

* The vaccine we use for Mpox is actually the smallpox vaccine. Dangerous groups, for example sex workers in Africa, were defined as dangerous groups. Vaccination risk groups have a reduced effect on the spread of the disease. By sharing all types of data transparently, if a case is discovered in the country, it will prevent panic. This is not a disease that can be likened to Covid. Therefore, we can say that this is the preparation time for Türkiye without panicking. “