The Covid-19 pandemic continues to threaten the world. On the one hand, the pandemic, which creates negative effects on public health, on the other hand, changes our daily lives by affecting the economy deeply. Dr Ozan Uzkut, who we know closely follows the subject, answered our questions about Covid-19.
First of all, can we get to know you briefly?
I was born in July 1965 as the son of a judge father and an economist mother in Afyon. After working as a doctor in Mardin, Adana Osmaniye for many years, I worked in Hasyurt and Finike for 16 years. I have been working as a family doctor in Antalya Family Health Center since 2010. I am also the press secretary of a union, a Board Member of the Patient Rights Association and the Chair of the Antalya City Council Health Working Group. This is also the reason Antalya province and I follow all the flow of information about many questions about health in Turkey. At this point, I can also produce public health policies.
The Covid-19 outbreak that shook the world continues to threaten public health and the economy. Could you evaluate the Covid-19 process in general?
The process regarding Covid-19 continues not only in us but also in the world. Countries are fighting against this epidemic to their extent. Some countries have taken this epidemic under control very quickly with strict practices and measures. Some of them could not do this and caused great losses. Some countries tried the herd immunity method and acted as if nothing had happened. None of these were applied to us. There was neither a strict measure nor was a complete freedom. Therefore, although the countries above and below us have changed, we have always maintained our 6th place since the beginning of the process with the number of patients. The low number of deaths in us was based on the devotion of all healthcare professionals, especially our physicians. Therefore, the most deceased health worker in the world is in our country. The most infected health professionals are also in our country. We also have the most successful health professionals. For the sake of the economy, the life of healthcare workers is put at risk, and the process continues unabated. According to official data, we are the only country that goes neither decreasing nor increasing. Of course, according to official data. This is not understood by other countries, and therefore it is viewed with suspicion. Meanwhile, the fact that our intensive care unit and intubated patient quadrupled in the last two months is another data that other countries have had difficulty in understanding.
Vaccination and drug studies are carried out in different regions and countries all over the world, in particular for Covid-19. Well, where is Turkey in these studies? and how does it contribute?
Turkey completely stopped producing the vaccine since 2005. While selling vaccines to the whole world in the 1930s in the first years of the Republic, we have now imported all our vaccines from abroad. We closed all of our factories and R&D facilities in the same way in pharmaceutical production in 2005. Almost all of our medicines are either imported or produced only as a counterpart to the drugs produced abroad. We have neither infrastructure nor technology to make new vaccines and produce drugs. We are now expecting other countries, such as 90% of the world, to develop vac cines or drugs.
How should we be protected from such pandemics and global diseases? What measures do you think should be taken?
In such pandemics, it is very important to isolate and quarantine people, which we call filiation, who are suspected of disease and infection. This must be at least 15 days in the first days of the outbreak. Because the incubation of this disease, the disease creation and recovery process, is known as 15 days. Including 5 days for filiation, a total of 20 days of curfew would have been enough to take the disease under control very quickly, if it had been strictly enforced. Countries doing this are very comfortable today. They seem to have no illness or take action immediately. But this could not be done in our country. We have implemented dressing measures and neither have fully quarantined nor fully released. Therefore, it did not progress very fast nor can it be controlled. No one can predict tomorrow or a month later.
Animal-based diseases such as SARS, MERS, Covid-19 threaten the world and endanger our health. How do you think this can be prevented?
It is only possible to get rid of these diseases and completely eliminate the disease by getting sick or vaccinated by 60% of the society. But still we may not be able to escape. Because, like other viruses, Covid-19 can change shape and appear in a different way. The only precaution is measures such as isolation, mask, hygiene, and personal measures such as providing nutritional sleep patterns and controlling chronic diseases. Other precautions are vaccine and medication, but its effect cannot be predicted yet, only hoped.
What is the path that Turkey is following on animal genetics and virology? What can you tell us about this?
Our vets are very good, but they have not been benefited where necessary and effective in Turkey for political reasons. Therefore, we still have not been able to get rid of animalto- human diseases such as anthrax, brucella, mad cow, rabies, which the world has almost completely recovered, and we are still fighting. Fortunately we do not eat animals that spread diseases such as bats, pigs and mice or we would not leave the world leadership to anyone in diseases that probably pass through the animal.
What is the impact of biotechnology in the development of a disease vaccine or drug therapy?
The importance of biotechnology is, of course, huge. We had very important genetic and biology experts. But since there is not any necessary infrastructure in our country, these valuable people are continuing their work abroad. My very close friend and also my classmate Prof. Dr. Bülent Özpolat is one of them and one of the leading American scientists working on the vaccine the world has been waiting for. The whole world is watching him and hoping. Unfortunately, because there is no infrastructure in our country, this valuable scientist is trying to benefit humanity in America. He is our hope.
What should be done against the spread, contamination, prevention methods and epidemics like this disease?
Maintaining social distance is the most important issue. If we keep the physical distance by leaving a distance of 2 meters, if we talk to people under 4 minutes, if they wear a mask on both sides, the risk of contamination will be below 2%. Also, the risk of contamination is reduced if we constantly disinfect our hands and do not take our hands to our faces. It is also very important to stay under 10 minutes in the c losed area. Sleep 8 hours a day increases natural immunity. Balanced nutrition and lack of stress factor is one of the protective factors in pandemic. Eating healthy for the immune system, avoiding flour and sugar by consuming protein, such as meat, milk, eggs, abundant seasonal fruits and vegetables, are natural methods of protection.