Ministry of Health Takes Precautions Against Swine Flu

Turkish Ministry of Health made a statement of the swine flu outbreak and told that people arriving from Mexico and its neighbors are checked at airports.

Head of Basic Health Services Department, Seraceddin Çom stated that people showing symptoms of the flu would be quarantined and treated at hospitals, which would allow the authorities to contain the virus before spreading in the country.

"As of now, Turkey is not under direct threat," said Çom. "But we have to acknowledge that such a risk exists." 

He noted that health workers are alerted on the issue and enough medicine stock exists. The ministry will issue a daily memo on the developments.

According to the statement, Ministry of Health had introduced pamphlets at airports and hotline 184 would be serving those looking for information.  

Swine flu is a respiratory disease, caused by influenza type A which infects pigs. There are many types, and the infection is constantly changing. The World Health Organization has confirmed that at least some of the human cases are a never-before-seen version of the H1N1 strain of influenza type A.

More than a hundred people have lost their lives in Mexico so far from the virus. In the US, around 20 people have been diagnosed with the virus.(TK/AGÜ)