Foreign Office issues Turkey travel update for any tourists planning to visit

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Anyone planning on travelling to Turkey soon has been advised to take note of a fresh update from the Foreign Office. Following an explosion in Ankara on October 1, government officials have removed the safety guidance surrounding the incident, as well as the heatwaves and wildfires that swept across the country during the summer.

Now, warnings about medical visits have been updated amid serious concerns over deaths and surgical complications stemming from people travelling to Turkey for cheaper procedures.

The Foreign Office said it was known that 25 people are known to have died there in the last four years. In an update, the government also explained the risk of catching potentially fatal botulism poisoning, after an outbreak of 71 cases in people undergoing weight loss treatment.The statement said: “The standard of medical facilities and available treatments can vary widely globally.

We are aware of over 25 British nationals who have died in Turkey since January 2019 following medical procedures. There were reports of an outbreak of botulism linked to weight loss treatments performed in Istanbul and Izmir in February 2023.”The new advice links to the website Travel Health Pro, which says: "United Kingdom (UK) residents travelling abroad for medical treatment, elective (planned) surgery and dental procedures may be at increased risk of complications, including exposure to blood-borne viruses.