Tourists get food poisoning in Turkey – health watchdog issues warning

Hundreds of tourists hit with food poisoning at Turkish resorts as the health watchdog issues a warning for holidaymakers amid wave of salmonella cases

• UK Health Security Agency issue warning over salmonella poisonings in Turkey
• A total of 241 cases have been confirmed since July 19 – in five clusters

The health watchdog has issued a warning for holidaymakers travelling to Turkey over a wave of salmonella poisoning cases.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) says the incidents, which include a number of children who needed to be put on a drip, appear to be linked.

A total of five clusters, which occurred as recently as July 19, involving 241 cases have been confirmed.

The organisation said: ‘The UKHSA has detected a number of clusters of gastrointestinal illness in travellers returning from Turkey, the majority of these with travel to the Antalya region.

‘Of the 93 cases for which detailed, confirmed travel information is available, these cases report staying in a number of different hotels in Turkey and most cases report eating a wide variety of different foods within their hotel resort as part of an all-inclusive holiday package.’

Dominic Brackley from Leighton Buzzard tested positive for salmonella after staying at the Rixos Sungate resort. He is pictured with his daughter, Blythe, who was on an IV drip at the hotel’s clinic

At least 33 families who visited the Rixos Sungate resort (pictured) in Antalya said they had been affected by severe illness, included diarrhoea and vomiting

It warned: ‘While salmonella infections usually resolve with self-care at home, they can be more serious in young children, the elderly and immunocompromised individuals.’

READ MORE: UK Health Security Agency investigating reports of illness at five-star Turkish resort as more than 100 holidaymakers threaten legal action against TUI with at least fourteen food poisoning cases

It offered health advice to British people including only eating recently prepared, thoroughly cooked food that is served piping hot, fruit that can be peeled by the traveller, and pasteurised dairy produce such as yoghurts, milk and cheese.

It said it is important that people thoroughly wash their hands before eating and after using the toilet to avoid spread.

UKHSA is liaising with the travel industry body, ABTA, Turkish public health authorities and other international public health partners to inform investigations of these clusters.

MailOnline has revealed how a number of British families suffered ‘nightmare’ holidays at one five-star resort in Turkey.

Scores of people had to be put on drips, while some children were too frightened to eat.

At least 33 families who visited the Rixos Sungate resort in Antalya said they had been affected by severe illness, included diarrhoea and vomiting.

Dominic Brackley from Leighton Buzzard said the first night his youngest had the illness he ‘thought she was dying she was so bad’.

Vdara, aged six, became unwell a few days after the family arrived at the resort and was soon taken into the hotel’s clinic and put on an IV drip.

The dad said he ‘then spent the next five nights watching her sleep’ to make sure she was safe.

Dominic’s nine-year-old, Blythe, was also unwell and had to be put on a drip in Turkey.

Another guest said that she forked out £5,000 for a luxury holiday at the resort to celebrate her partner’s 40th birthday, but he was confined to bed.

Katie Harrington, 33, said her husband James was unable to move or eat, suffering from kidney pain, a fever and diarrhoea

Katie Harrington, 33, said her husband James was unable to move or eat, suffering from kidney pain, a fever and diarrhoea.

He was put on two drips in the hotel’s clinic and prescribed numerous antibiotics.

More than 130 holidaymakers, including 50 children, who fell ill in Turkey, have asked law firm Irwin Mitchell to take up their cases.

Lawyer, Jatinder Paul, said: ‘We’ve now been contacted by more than 130 people who have suffered serious gastric illness while holidaying at the Rixos Sungate in Turkey, which is very worrying.

‘What’s deeply concerning is that many of those affected are children and there are several cases of Salmonella which is particularly dangerous for the most vulnerable such as children and the elderly.’

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