"Phase-2 studies of the CCHF vaccine will be conducted in Sivas"
SCU Faculty of Medicine Hospital Chief Physician Prof. Dr. Ömer Tamer Doğan made statements about CCHF disease and vaccine studies. Providing information about the ways the disease is transmitted, protection methods and treatment process, Chief Physician Doğan said, "It is an infectious disease transmitted to people by ticks carrying the CCHF virus. It can be fatal if not treated correctly and on time. Although there are fluctuations in the number of cases over the years, there has been a slight increase in the first few months of this year. In addition to being transmitted by contact with ticks carrying the virus, it is also transmitted by crushing these ticks with bare hands and touching their fluids. In addition, it can be transmitted by contact with the body fluids of people who have contracted the disease. Those engaged in agriculture and animal husbandry, veterinarians, soldiers, healthcare personnel dealing with the treatment of the disease, and those who walk around rural areas without precautions and have picnics constitute the risk groups."
"THERE IS NO CLEAR CURE FOR THE DISEASE"Stating that Sivas Cumhuriyet University Medical Faculty Hospital has become the center of the fight against CCHF disease and that they have been following the disease for 23 years, Doğan said, "There is no clear treatment for the disease. Supportive treatment is mostly applied. Our patients who come on time recover with this support."
Doğan, who also provided information about vaccine studies in the fight against CCHF disease, said, "Our university's Prof. Dr. Nazif Elaldı Hoca is closely interested in this subject. Phase-1 studies of the vaccine are currently ongoing in Sweden. When Phase-2 studies are started, these studies will also be carried out in Sivas. We expect the vaccine to be put into operation after Phase-2 studies."
"PRIORITY IS TO TAKE PROTECTIVE MEASURES"Doğan, who warned citizens about the methods of protection from the disease, said, "We should not be too afraid of this disease, but we should also not let our guard down. When the necessary precautions are taken and health institutions are applied to on time, the disease does not cause any problems. If timely and correct intervention is not provided, it can become fatal. First of all, protective measures should be taken. It is important not to enter places with long grass, to wear light-colored clothes if you are going to go, to tuck the legs of the clothes you wear into your socks, to use light-colored covers if you are going to sit on the ground, and to check the body carefully when returning. Children's bodies in particular should be checked completely. If a tick is detected during these checks, it is necessary to apply to health institutions without delay."
Doğan, who said that there has been an increase in tick cases with the warming of the weather but that there have been no cases coming to the hospital from Sivas city center, said, "Of course, this does not mean that they will not come, we should not let down our precautions. The cases that have come to us so far are mostly from Yozgat and Tokat. We also have cases from Hafik, Zara and Koyulhisar from Sivas districts. We should not worry or panic about this disease. Although it is said that there is no cure for this disease, those who are exposed to ticks can easily recover from the disease with early and correct intervention. The most effective intervention against this disease is to prevent ticks with preventive measures. If contact with ticks occurs despite this, it is necessary to apply to health institutions without wasting time. A very high number of our patients have regained their health with timely and correct intervention. All of our deceased patients lost their lives due to the wrong removal of ticks and late application to hospitals."
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