European M flower alarm: Be prepared for the virus.

In a meeting hosted by the European Parliament's Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI), the European Union (EU) Commission's Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Agency (HERA), the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), and the European Medicines Agency (EMA), the current situation and preparations regarding the M flower virus were discussed.

Dr. Pamela Rendi-Wagner, Director of the ECDC, stated that the risk of an outbreak in Europe is "low" under current conditions, with the only case in Europe being reported in Sweden on August 15. However, Rendi-Wagner emphasized the need for preparedness against the possibility of an increase in "imported cases" within the EU, stating, "Therefore, it is crucial for European countries to be prepared to detect infections as quickly as possible in order to prevent further spread within Europe."

"THE REAL SCALE OF THE OUTBREAK COULD BE MUCH LARGER"

Rendi-Wagner highlighted the deficiencies in reporting and diagnosis processes in Africa, stating, "We assume that the real scale of the outbreak in Africa could be much larger." Rendi-Wagner mentioned that in addition to preparing EU member states for the outbreak, the ECDC is working in the field, particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo and other parts of Africa, to control the outbreak in Africa and prevent its spread to other continents, supporting local health authorities and gathering more information about the virus.

"M FLOWER IS NOT A NEW COVID"

"It should be noted that the M flower is not a new COVID-19," said Rendi-Wagner, pointing out that the two viruses spread in different ways, have different risks, and that there is already a vaccine available for the M flower virus. Rendi-Wagner stated that there is no need for vaccination covering the entire population, but vaccination should be considered for Europeans traveling to regions with high circulation of the virus, especially for those who are severely ill and at high risk.

M FLOWER VIRUS

The M flower virus is transmitted from rodents such as mice and squirrels or infected individuals. Touching the body rashes caused by the virus, using clothes, sheets, towels, and similar items contaminated with these rashes, and coming into contact with body fluids are among the most important modes of transmission. Initial symptoms can appear 5 to 21 days after contracting the virus. The virus usually causes high fever, headache, back and muscle pain, swollen lymph nodes, fatigue, chills, tremors, and blister-like lesions on the skin.