Health warning issued for tourists travelling to Turkey, here's what you should know

Health warning issued for tourists travelling to Turkey, here's what you should know
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Health warning issued for tourists travelling to Turkey, here's what you should know
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UK health authorities issued an urgent warning over the risk of food poisoning when on holidays in Turkey. Here is what bacteria are on the rise and how to avoid getting your vacations ruined.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) warned Turkey-bound Britsof the risk of contracting Salmonella while on holidays.

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An unusually high number of cases has been recorded between April and now, and it was mostly linked to Antalya region, with holidaymakers having stayed in both luxury and budget hotels, the new report reveals.

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The nasty bug can not only ruin your hard-earned vacations but also lead to long-term consequences if not treated on time.

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Meanwhile, Ofcom also issued a warning to British tourists traveling abroadover phone bills.

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Hundreds of tourists fall ill with food poisoning in Turkey

UKHSA has issued an urgent warning to tourists travelling to Turkey after a usually high number of people have fallen ill with salmonella.

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A period between 15 January and 19 July saw 241 confirmed cases of gastrointestinal illness, with the majority of them from April onwards.

A high number of infections were linked to the Antalya region of Turkey.

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A total of 93 cases have detailed and confirmed travel information available, and they helped to establish that those impacted were staying in different hotels and, in most cases, eating a wide variety of foods within their hotel resort as part of an all-inclusive holiday package.

UKHSA commented:

While salmonella infections usually resolve with self-care at home, they can be more serious in young children, the elderly and immunocompromised individuals.
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The health body also warned travellers to only eat the fruit they had peeled themselves.

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Nightmare in Turkey: you don’t book a five-star holiday to spend most of it unwell

In April this year, national media reported that 25 British holidaymakers have been struck down by a food poisoning outbreak at a five-star resort in Turkey.

At least one of them has been hospitalised.

The all-inclusive £4,000 deal with holiday firm TUI had 'lucky' tourists stay at the Rixos Sungate Hotel. The luxury experience in the Mediterranean included 13 bars and restaurants, one of them - with a world food buffet.

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One of the tourists who was spending Easter break with his partner and children had to be placed on a drip after being hit with suspected gastroenteritis and is now among dozens of holidaymakers planning to take legal action against TUI for the nightmare holiday.

He said:

It was horrible being ill, and then seeing my children also suffering from sickness. The holiday was just a disaster and we want to know what went wrong. There were others at the same hotel who were also ill and I know they are considering legal action too as you don't book a five-star holiday expecting to spend most of it in bed with illness.
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UKHSA is liaising with Turkish travel industry body and public health authorities in a bid to keep holidaymakers safe.

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Sources used:

- Mirror: 'Urgent warning as hundreds of tourists fall ill with food poisoning in Turkey'

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