Swine flu does not exist, says Bahçeli

The leader of the opposition National Movement Party, or MHP, has introduced existential doubt into the swine flu debate.

“I do not believe in the swine flu,” said MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli on Saturday.

“We have not taken any measures (against the H1N1 virus commonly known as swine flu). Everything is up to God’s will,” said Bahçeli, Anatolia news agency reported.

According to the Health Ministry’s Web site, however, as of Thursday at least 161 people have died of swine flu and 243 people were receiving treatment in Turkish hospitals as of Thursday. Ninety-two of those patients were also suffering from a chronic disease, which puts them in the high-risk category, said the web site.

During the celebration of Kurban Bayram, or Feast of the Sacrifice, some politicians including Health Minister Recep Akdağ avoid kissing people, but Bahçeli’s statement on swine flu was unique.

Deniz Baykal, leader of main opposition Republican People’s Party, or CHP, said swine flu is a matter of health and added that it is not right to ask for a politician’s opinion about being vaccinated. Saying that nowhere in the world politicians have talked about the swine flu, Baykal said to be vaccinated or not should be the personal decision of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and that he should not be a vaccination role model.

“The health minister tries to convince everyone to be vaccinated but I think he should convince the prime minister first of its necessity. As the prime minister approaches any issue ideologically, his decision on the vaccination must be ideological, too,” said Baykal.

Erdoğan said earlier that he and his family would not be vaccinated against the swine flu. He also said the Health Ministry should make clear statements about the necessity of the vaccine in order to prevent doubts about it.

Meanwhile, Istanbul Gov. Muammer Güler said he has not been vaccinated because his turn for the vaccine has not come yet. “I said before that I will be vaccinated too when my turn comes. I am waiting for it,” he said.