Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca held a press conference today in the central province of Kırşehir, where he addressed concerns regarding the emergence of the new COVID-19 variant, Eris (EG.5.1).

Koca provided reassurance to the public by confirming that this variant has not been observed within Türkiye's borders.

During the press briefing, Koca emphasized that Türkiye has not yet encountered the Eris variant of COVID-19. He quelled fears of the country entering another phase of lockdowns, stating that the strategy against the new variant would mirror the approach used to combat influenza.

Touching on a different health concern, Minister Koca also shared insights into the rise of measles cases. He stressed the critical role of vaccination in protecting individuals from measles and urged parents not to overlook their children's vaccine schedules, as recommended by the scientific committee on vaccination.

Highlighting a positive trend, Koca noted that the number of measles cases has progressively decreased over the past 2-3 months. He disclosed that Istanbul currently reports the highest number of cases, accounting for 80% of the total cases in the country. The cities of Ankara, Gaziantep, Kocaeli, and Diyarbakır followed in case count.

Koca's statements offer a clear update on Türkiye's COVID-19 situation and its ongoing efforts to manage health challenges, emphasizing the importance of vaccination in safeguarding public health. (ILKHA)