High Toll Research Articles

The saga of the development of laboratory tests to evaluate the neutralizing efficacy of antivenoms for the treatment of snakebite envenoming.

The parenteral administration of animal-derived antivenoms has been, since 1894, the mainstay of the therapy of snakebite envenoming, a neglected tropical disease that exerts a high toll of morbidity and mortality on a global basis. A key test in the development and quality control of antivenoms has been the neutralization of the lethal effect of venoms. Since the early times of antivenoms, the neutralization of venom's lethality has been predominantly based on the incubation of venom and antivenom prior to the injection in laboratory animals. The present narrative review summarizes the main milestones in the development of venom neutralization assays by antivenoms, starting with the pioneer work of Calmette and Vital Brazil. Despite various initiatives along the 20th century to standardize these tests, the antivenom efficacy assays have been highly heterogeneous between laboratories and countries. Efforts carried out to understand the main variables that determine the lethality tests are discussed, together with the introduction of assays to assess the neutralization of other relevant toxic and enzymatic activities of venoms, which complement the lethality assay. In the last decades, international efforts coordinated by the World Health Organization (WHO) led to the publication of the WHO guidelines for the production and control of antivenoms, which comprise detailed descriptions of preclinical neutralization assays, including the essential test, i.e., lethality, and supplementary assays that assess other relevant toxic effects. The pain and suffering of animals in the traditional antivenom neutralization tests urge the implementation of the 3Rs principles (replacement, reduction, refinement) in antivenom efficacy assessment, and innovation is urgently needed in this field.

Time–Space Analysis of Transport Infrastructures: A Pilot Study of Shibuya-Type Crossings for Signalized Intersections in Developing Cities

Cities are growing larger, and congestion is becoming a major issue. Walking is increasingly becoming an important mode of transport in developing cities. One of the reasons for the high death toll is the lack of pedestrian facilities at transport infrastructures such as signalized intersections, where a conflict arises between vehicles turning right and pedestrians crossing at different speeds. This conflict, known as the vehicle–pedestrian conflict (in right-driving jurisdictions), occurs when the green light for vehicles is shared with the green pedestrian light. Additionally, if the intersection is congested due to high pedestrian flow, vehicles will turn right only during the yellow light, trying to find a gap in the pedestrian flow. As a result, delays increase for both pedestrians and vehicles, reducing the intersection’s capacity. To reduce the vehicle–pedestrian conflict, various pedestrian facilities can be implemented, such as Shibuya-type crossings, which include an exclusive pedestrian phase and diagonal crossing. When applying this type of solution, vehicle delays are reduced up to 81% on average, increasing the efficiency and safety of the space used at the intersection. However, pedestrian delays might increase up to 5 times, due to the need to wait for the third exclusive phase for them to cross the intersection in all directions. The method is applied in a case of study in Valparaiso, Chile, and therefore can be expanded in further research to other developing cities in Chile and specifically Latin America.

Establishment of a 3D-Printed Tissue-on-a-Chip Model for Live Imaging of Bacterial Infections.

Despite advances in healthcare, bacterial pathogens remain a severe global health threat, exacerbated by rising antibiotic resistance. Lower respiratory tract infections, with their high death toll, are of particular concern. Accurately replicating host-pathogen interactions in laboratory models is crucial for understanding these diseases and evaluating new therapies. In this communication, we briefly present existing in vivo models for cystic fibrosis and their limitations in replicating human respiratory infections. We then present a novel, 3D-printed, cytocompatible microfluidic lung-on-a-chip device, designed to simulate the human lung environment, and with possible use in recapitulating general infectious diseases.Our device enables the colonisation of fully differentiated lung epithelia at an air-liquid interface with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a key pathogen in many severe infections. By incorporating dynamic flow, we replicate the clearance of bacterial toxins and planktonic cells, simulating both acute and chronic infections. This platform supports real-time monitoring of therapeutic interventions, mimics repeated drug administrations as in clinical settings, and facilitates the analysis of colony-forming units and cytokine secretion over time. Our findings indicate that this lung-on-a-chip device has significant potential for advancing infectious disease research, in optimizing treatment strategies against infections and in developing novel treatments.

Dura fenestration is non-inferior and with lower complication incidence compared to augmented duraplasty in decompressive craniectomy.

Decompressive craniectomy is a procedure for managing elevated intracranial pressure (ICP). However, it carries a high morbidity and mortality toll. While there is relative consensus regarding the bony part of the decompression, the role of dura opening and the optimal technique to perform it are under debate. Here we compared the commonly used augmented duraplasty technique to an understudied technique of dura fenestrations in a single center, prospective, non-controlled randomized study. The study included 23 patients who underwent decompressive craniectomy. The lowering of ICP was significant in both methods when compared to preoperative values and compared to pre-duraplasty values. The ICP was similar in various postoperative time points between both techniques. The rate of complications was lower when the dura was fenestrated - brain herniation was over five time less common, infection was more than five times rarer. Contusion expansion, meningitis and contralateral subdural collection were all lower in fenestrated dura cases than in wide dura opening. These results hold promise for a superior surgical approach in duraplasty for intracranial pressure reduction.

Five Centuries of Plague Presence in Albania (Fourteenth to Nineteenth Century)

Abstract From the mid-fourteenth to the nineteenth century, the Albanian territories, like much of Europe and the Mediterranean, felt the devastating impact of the plague, a deadly disease brought on by the bacterium Yersinia pestis. This disease has caused a major pandemic in Europe and the Mediterranean and is one of the deadliest diseases in human history. In the Albanian regions, this pandemic appeared with all its demographic and economic consequences, similar to those experienced across the Balkans, Europe, and the Mediterranean. Although contemporary records detailing the plague’s impact on Albanian territories are scarce, available data suggest the epidemic was extremely severe, inflicting considerable harm on the population and economy. The disease made recurrent appearances, each time bringing high death tolls and significant disruptions to the area’s social and economic well-being. During the late Medieval and Renaissance periods, the Albanian territories grappled with plague outbreaks, suffering substantial damage. This predicament persisted until the early nineteenth century when advances in medicine and hygiene began to curb the epidemic’s spread and reduce its mortality rate.

Increased impacts of aircraft activities on PM2.5 concentration and human health in China

The rapid development of China’s aviation industry has caused a rapid increase in airport PM2.5 emissions. This study uses the Global Exposure Mortality Model (GEMM) to evaluate the monthly deaths caused by aircraft activities at 164 airports in China from 2015 to 2023, based on the PM2.5 concentration of airport aircraft activities and the detection data of the China National Environmental Monitoring Center, including twenty age groups, six diseases, and gender. This paper presents three main conclusions. Firstly, aviation PM2.5 emissions significantly impact mortality, with notable variations by year and season. The highest cumulative deaths are recorded in 2023, particularly in the third quarter, which peaked at 8,305 deaths. Despite the comparatively modest total of 11,604 deaths in 2022, a mere 0.2965 μg/m3 increase in PM2.5 concentration would precipitate an additional 39,138 deaths, representing a 1.05-fold rise from 2015. Secondly, the 80–84 age bracket exhibited the highest death proportion (16.51 %–18.73 %), while the 5–9 and 10–14 age groups had the lowest (0 %-0.13 %). Males aged 80–84 are the most affected demographic, with each 1 μg/m3 increase in PM2.5 leading to an additional 87 male deaths monthly in 2023, primarily from stroke and ischemic heart disease. In contrast, females only experienced 67 additional deaths per month from the same concentration increase. Lastly, airports in the economically vibrant Beijing-Shanghai-Guangzhou-Shenzhen region showed the highest mortality rates due to PM2.5 emissions. Airports in eastern coastal areas are more severely impacted than those in central and western China, revealing a spatial clustering of high death tolls in developed regions.

What Counts as Global Health?

Safe abortion access is an essential aspect of reproductive justice and key to reducing global rates of maternal mortality, yet within the global heath enterprise, the rhetoric of sexual and reproductive health and rights has not yet been realised in practice. Access to safe legal abortion remains inequitable globally and within nations and deaths due to unsafe abortion take their highest toll in the Global South in jurisdictions with restrictive laws. Clandestine abortion access activist networks have been filling this gap offering life, dignity and futures to the people who seek their services. What should we make of clandestine activist networks around the world that help people access medication abortion? Such groups have been important players in women’s reproductive health in many jurisdictions for decades – but have typically, by necessity and design, flown under the radar. If visibility, accountability and humanitarian appeal are essential characteristic of global health work, how do we acknowledge and understand the work of clandestine abortion access activist networks? Does it count as global health? In this essay I offer the notion of ‘critique in action’ to further our understanding of such networks and also consider the idea of abortion access activist networks as an anti-regime of global health.

Nurse Experiences of Caring for Medically Compromised Adolescents With Eating Disorders in General Hospital Environments: A Scoping Review.

Eating disorders encompass a spectrum of mental health conditions that are characterised by a preoccupation with eating, exercise, body weight or shape. The trajectory of eating disorders can result in hospitalisation for medical complications, such as electrolyte imbalance, extremely low weight and other medical issues that require urgent inpatient attention. Typically, care for adolescents with medically compromised eating disorders occurs in general medical settings, with most care provided by nurses who may or may not have the training and experience to provide quality care for this complex mental health condition. The aim of this scoping review is to examine literature surrounding the experience of nurses caring for adolescents admitted to general medical wards (non-mental health settings) with medically compromised eating disorders. We used Arksey and O'Malley's (2005) five-step scoping review process to conduct this review. A systematic search of the literature located 476 relevant papers, and after screening, 10 were included in the final review. Most included papers were qualitative in methodology, with one using a mixed-methods design. The papers examined in this scoping review found common themes among nurses who were providing care for adolescents with medically compromised eating disorders being cared for in medical wards (non-mental health settings): a lack of preparation to care for individuals with eating disorders, a high emotional and psychological toll on nurses providing care and a degree of stigma towards adolescents with eating disorders, including a belief that eating disorders were a 'choice.' This review indicates that to provide quality and safe care for adolescents with eating disorders admitted to general medical wards, nurses require specialised training. In addition, the care of adolescents with medically compromised eating disorders requires the support of trained mental health nurses, especially where nurses on general medical wards are novice or have limited mental health training. We recommend further research into support structures to prevent burnout and turnover that is prevalent when providing care to individuals with eating disorders.

The Influence of The Socialization of "Ojek Sigap: Ojek Siap Gerak Cepat (Quick Response Motorcycle Taxi: Ready To Move Fast) on Knowledge of First Aid For Accidents of Online Ojek Drivers in Jambi City

Road traffic accidents are the leading cause of death worldwide, with the current global death toll reaching 1.24 million per year. This figure is expected to increase to 3.6 million per year by 2030. Indonesia ranks third highest in Asia, after China and India, with 38,279 deaths due to road traffic accidents in 2015. Jambi City, despite having a lower accident rate than other provinces, still faces significant challenges with 392 deaths in 2018. Lack of knowledge about first aid (P3K) is one of the factors contributing to the high death toll. Given the widespread use of online motorcycle taxis on the road, their drivers have the potential to become witnesses or victims of accidents. Therefore, it is necessary to improve knowledge and skills in first aid among online motorcycle taxi drivers to improve road safety. The study used the Pre - Experimental research method with a Prepost Test Design design with 28 respondents. The provision of material using educational videos and mnemonic cards related to initial handling of accidents. Statistical analysis using the Wilcoxon test showed very significant results with a value of P = 0.0000 and Z = -4.658. A very low P value (less than 0.05) indicates that there is a statistically significant difference between the level of knowledge of respondents before and after the socialization. This negative Z value indicates that there is a significant increase in the knowledge of respondents after they have participated in the socialization program. The results of the study indicate that there is an Influence of the Socialization of "OJEK SIGAP” on Knowledge of First Aid for Accidents for Online Ojek Drivers in Jambi City.

Reckoning with COVID-19 denial: Brazil's exemplary model for global response.

In the aftermath of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Brazil, accountability is crucial for those who denied the severity of the virus, spreading false information and causing harm. Some individuals have already faced legal proceedings against them, revealing economic motivations behind their actions. It is equally important to hold doctors accountable for prescribing ineffective treatments, putting the population at risk. The leaders of the denial movement and the federal government, who mishandled the pandemic, should be held accountable for the high death toll. Seeking justice from the legislative and executive branches is necessary, along with exemplary measures for those who spread misinformation about COVID-19.

Can we develop a more targeted approach to mitigating seismic risk?

The recent high death tolls caused by large earthquakes are a further indication that earthquakes remain one of the most destructive natural hazards in the world and can seriously threaten the achievement of disaster reduction goals. To effectively reduce the existing seismic risk, the limited available mitigation resources should be allocated to areas with the most severe potential risk. However, identifying localized concentrations of risk requires detailed studies. Here, we propose a strategy to delineate regional high seismic risk zone at a fine resolution and with high confidence. We demonstrate this strategy by using the seismic hazard and loss estimation results for earthquake scenarios with a magnitude of Mw 7.5 for the Jiaocheng fault of the Shanxi Rift System, China. Our analyses reveal that the delineated zone accounts for only ~7% of the regional land area but for ~85% of the total financial loss. We recommend prioritizing seismic risk mitigation measures in such high-risk zones, especially for densely populated cities in seismically active areas, to better meet the disaster risk reduction targets in the Sendai Framework.

3-chymotrypsin-like protease in SARS-CoV-2.

Coronaviruses constitute a significant threat to the human population. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2, SARS-CoV-2, is a highly pathogenic human coronavirus that has caused the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. It has led to a global viral outbreak with an exceptional spread and a high death toll, highlighting the need for effective antiviral strategies. 3-Chymotrypsin-like protease (3CLpro), the main protease in SARS-CoV-2, plays an indispensable role in the SARS-CoV-2 viral life cycle by cleaving the viral polyprotein to produce 11 individual non-structural proteins necessary for viral replication. 3CLpro is one of two proteases that function to produce new viral particles. It is a highly conserved cysteine protease with identical structural folds in all known human coronaviruses. Inhibitors binding with high affinity to 3CLpro will prevent the cleavage of viral polyproteins, thus impeding viral replication. Multiple strategies have been implemented to screen for inhibitors against 3CLpro, including peptide-like and small molecule inhibitors that covalently and non-covalently bind the active site, respectively. In addition, allosteric sites of 3CLpro have been identified to screen for small molecules that could make non-competitive inhibitors of 3CLpro. In essence, this review serves as a comprehensive guide to understanding the structural intricacies and functional dynamics of 3CLpro, emphasizing key findings that elucidate its role as the main protease of SARS-CoV-2. Notably, the review is a critical resource in recognizing the advancements in identifying and developing 3CLpro inhibitors as effective antiviral strategies against COVID-19, some of which are already approved for clinical use in COVID-19 patients.

Protocolized Foot Exercises Help in Improvement of Diabetic Foot Ulcers and Quality of Life When Added to Standard Therapy-A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Diabetic foot disease is the major cause of nontraumatic limb amputations worldwide causing a high socioeconomic and psychological toll and a huge burden to the healthcare system. Currently, standard treatment of diabetic foot ulcer is through multidisciplinary therapy. Foot exercises have been shown to improve healing in diabetic ulcers although evidence is limited and applicability is non-uniform. Our study aimed to generate more evidence regarding the benefit of addition of protocolized foot exercises so that it can be instituted as a standard of care. It was an open label Randomized controlled trial with seventy-two patients and study duration of one and half years Patients with diabetic foot ulcers were randomized into two groups. Both groups received standard therapy for diabetic foot ulcer. The intervention group in addition received three months of protocolized foot exercises. At the end of three months ulcer healing and quality of life were m compared among both the groups. Regular exercises for three months caused significant reduction in ulcer area compared to the non-intervention group [100% versus 45.22%, 95% CI =36.30(16.04-56.56), P-value = 0.001]. Quality of life analyzed by SF-36 score showed significant improvement in components like physical function [69.4 ± 8.9 versus 63.7 ± 11.0, 95% CI = 5.73 (0.97-10.48), P-value = 0.01], emotional well-being [65.2 ± 7.6 versus 60.8 ± 7.9, 95% CI = 4.44 (0.79-8.10), P-value = 0.01], and pain components [55.4 ± 18.5 versus 47.5 ± 14.5, 95% CI = 7.99 (0.16-15.81), P-value = 0.04) at 3 months although change in social functioning, physical health limitation, health change, energy and general health improvement were not significant. Addition of protocolized foot exercises are beneficial for patients of diabetic foot ulcers in terms of ulcer healing as well as improvement of quality of life provided compliance to exercises can be ensured.

Turkish earthquake death tolls: lessons from downward counterfactual analysis and informal construction

Earthquake death tolls are a basic statistical measure of the capability of a country to manage seismic risk. The extremely high Turkish death toll of 50,000 from the Kahramanmaraş earthquake doublet of 6 February 2023 is the product of a cascade of detrimental factors. These need to be explained if lessons from this disaster are to be learned. This is the purpose and objective of this paper, which is a contribution to the interdisciplinary Frontiers research topic on integrated perspectives on the 2023 Turkey and Syria earthquakes: advancing understanding and preparedness across earth sciences, engineering and public health. This paper covers these three disciplines by focusing on casualties, and identifying crucial aspects of earth sciences and engineering which contributed to the high death toll. First, there was a surprising combination of multiple fault segment ruptures, and a high level of ground motion relative to the risk-based Turkish code, indicative of the under-representation of the M7.5+ earthquake doublet event in the national probabilistic seismic hazard model. This combination of fault segment ruptures was missing from all seismic source models. Furthermore, the capability of buildings to cope with strong ground motion was much reduced by informal construction methods, which eroded the margin of safety needed to avoid building collapse. The extent of building code non-compliance was widely underestimated in seismic risk models. Non-compliance is often hard to identify, but construction amnesties make non-compliance more transparent and trackable. The disastrous outcome of the Kahramanmaraş earthquake doublet of 6 February 2023 has drawn global attention to systemic building code non-compliance, and the open official acceptance of informal housing. To demonstrate that this key systemic risk is far from being just a Turkish problem, notably in Istanbul, the challenge of Italian informal housing is highlighted within the context of international building code non-compliance.

Association of Glycoprotein IIIa PlA1/A2 Polymorphism with Risk of Stroke: Updated Meta-Analysis.

Cardiovascular diseases are the main cause of death in the world, with ischemic heart disease (i.e., myocardial infarction) and cerebrovascular disease (i.e., stroke) taking the highest toll. Advances in diagnosis and treatment have led to a significant alleviation of ischemic complications, specifically in the realm of pharmacotherapy and interventional devices, while pharmacogenomics has yet to be fully leveraged to improve the burden of disease. Atherothrombotic events might occur earlier or respond worse to treatment in patients with genetic variants of GP IIb/IIIa. Therefore, we aimed to quantitate the involvement of the PlA2 variant in the risk of cerebral stroke events. A systematic search and meta-analysis were performed by pooling the risks of individual studies. A total of 31 studies comprising 5985 stroke patients and 7886 controls were analyzed. A meta-analysis of four studies on hemorrhagic stroke patients showed no association with the PIA2 rs5918(C) polymorphism in both fixed-effect (OR = 0.90 95%CI [0.71; 1.14]; p = 0.398) and random-effect models (OR = 0.86 95%CI [0.62; 1.20]; p-value = 0.386). The power of this analysis was below <30%, indicating a limited ability to detect a true effect. An analysis of the 28 studies on ischemic stroke revealed a significant association with the PIA2 rs5918(C) allele in both fixed-effect (OR = 1.16 95%CI [1.06; 1.27]; p = 0.001) and random-effect models (OR = 1.20 95%CI [1.04; 1.38]; p-value = 0.012), with a power of >80%. The PIA2 allele was associated with an increased risk of ischemic stroke. No association was found with hemorrhagic stroke, most likely due to the small number of available studies, which resulted in a lack of power.

Polysaccharides and Lectins: A Natural Complementary Approach against the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic

Infection with the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, the cause of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), has emerged as a global pandemic, with a high toll on casualties, economic impact, and human lifestyle. Despite the recent approval of various vaccines against the virus, challenges remain, including the limited availability of these vaccines, the prevalent rejection of vaccination by a large proportion of the population, and the recurrent appearance of new variants of the virus due to mutations. This context raises the alarm for scientists and clinicians to seek alternative and complementary therapies. In this context, natural products and their derivatives serve as reservoirs for potential therapeutic compounds that can be exploited in the research and production of antiviral drugs against COVID-19. Among these substances, lectin and polysaccharides isolated from fauna and flora emerge as complementary strategies for treating coronavirus infection. The review objective is to cover and analyze the specific role of polysaccharides and lectins and their synergy in the fight against this deadly SARS-CoV-2 virus. For this purpose, a primary literature search was conducted on Google Scholar, PubMed, and Web of Sciences using relevant keywords like “SARS-CoV-2 Variants”; “Antiviral Strategies”; “Antiviral Polysaccharides”; “Antiviral Lectins”; and “Synergistic effect”. The results demonstrate that lectins and polysaccharides exhibit antiviral activities against SARS-CoV-2 via mechanisms related to binding and steric blocking, the binding of glycan-based decoys, chemical reactions, virus particle disruption strategies, and steric blocking for competitive inhibition to block SARS-CoV-2 and its variants’ entry. In addition, this review analyzes the rationale behind combining polysaccharides and lectins, emphasizing complementary mechanisms of action. By simultaneously targeting multiple stages of the viral life cycle, this dual strategy aims to comprehensively inhibit viral propagation and enhance the durability of antiviral strategies over time.

Understanding Gender Disparities in Caregiving, Stress, and Perceptions of Institutional Support among Faculty during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The loss of the care infrastructure that occurred during the COVID-19 crisis exposed society’s continued reliance on women and mothers as default caregivers. But less is known about how this crisis produced gendered mental health outcomes, especially in occupations characterized by intensive work cultures such as academia. Drawing on quantitative and qualitative responses from a May 2021 campus-wide survey of faculty at a large research university in the United States, we explore gendered patterns in faculty caregivers’ time use, stress, and perceptions of institutional support. Our findings demonstrate that childcare responsibilities were not merely more substantial for women than men in terms of hours, but they were also qualitatively different, with women’s hours being more unpredictable, interruptive, and mentally and emotionally demanding. We also show that the pandemic took a higher toll on women faculty’s mental health compared to men’s. This gap in mental health emerged not merely because women were spending more time caregiving on average, but also because the university’s policies did not effectively support the most strained caregivers. This study contributes empirical evidence to research on academic caregivers during the pandemic and to work demonstrating how (1) gendered caregiving dynamics shape mental health and remote work experiences and (2) the reliance on individual solutions to balancing work and family has failed even relatively privileged workers.

Confinement tonicity on epidemic spreading

Emerging and re-emerging pathogens are latent threats in our society with the risk of killing millions of people worldwide, without forgetting the severe economic and educational backlogs. From COVID-19, we learned that self isolation and quarantine restrictions (confinement) were the main way of protection till availability of vaccines. However, abrupt lifting of social confinement would result in new waves of new infection cases and high death tolls. Here, inspired by how an extracellular solution can make water move into or out of a cell through osmosis, we define confinement tonicity. This can serve as a standalone measurement for the net direction and magnitude of flows between the confined and deconfined susceptible compartments. Numerical results offer insights on the effects of easing quarantine restrictions.

Examining the Factors Influencing Tsunami Evacuation Action Selection in Thailand: A Comprehensive Study Involving Local Residents, Non-Local Workers, and Travelers

Tsunamis are a substantial natural threat in Thailand, as evidenced by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Effective evacuation is vital to reduce casualties and property damage. However, despite improved warning systems, high death tolls still occur, indicating complex evacuation behavior influenced by various factors. This study examines these factors among diverse groups in Phuket and Phang Nga, Thailand. A survey of 1000 locals, non-local workers, and travelers assesses threat and coping appraisals, past tsunami experiences, gender, age, and tsunami evacuation intention and action selection. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) was used to analyze the data based on the hypotheses related to the Protection Motivation Theory (PMT). The results of the analyses show that threat and coping appraisals significantly predict tsunami evacuation intention, and gender influences threat perception related to evacuation. Variations among respondent types emphasize the need for tailored disaster preparedness and response strategies. This study offers crucial insights for policymakers, emergency responders, and disaster management stakeholders, underlining the significance of further research into the intricate interplay of individual and contextual factors shaping tsunami evacuation behavior.

Corruption in Turkey and earthquakes: Policies for tackling corruption in the construction sector

AbstractThe earthquake in Turkey has resulted in thousands of fatalities and injuries and is considered one of the worst natural disasters in recent history. The disaster has also brought to light another major issue in Turkey, namely, corruption. Failure to comply with building regulations and successive government amnesties for unlicensed construction contributed to the high death toll. This paper aims to draw attention to the ongoing issue of corruption and the potential life‐saving benefits of ethical practices in business and government. Finally, relevant useful policies targeting corruption in real estate have been proposed.