While a noticeable increase in influenza cases is being observed in the middle of the winter season, COVID-19 cases are declining. Reports indicate a rise in hospital visits—particularly to emergency departments—and among pediatric patients due to upper respiratory tract infections.
KUISCID Director Prof. Önder Ergönül shared his assessment of the rise in influenza cases with Halk TV. Emphasizing that influenza should not be underestimated, Prof. Ergönül warned that the disease can lead to pneumonia, cardiac involvement, and life-threatening complications, especially in older adults and individuals with chronic conditions.
Prof. Ergönül advised people in high-risk groups to wear masks in crowded and enclosed areas, stressing that it is not too late to get the influenza vaccine. He noted that influenza vaccination significantly reduces the risk of infection and severe illness, reminding that the vaccine should be administered regularly every year.
