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Spain and Turkey travel warning over sickness affecting 1 in 10 tourists
Holidaymakers travelling to these popular European destinations have been warned about the risk of picking up infections
Tourists have been warned over travel bugs affecting those heading to Spain and Turkey (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
UK holidaymakers heading abroad have been urged to take precautions as new data revealed the number of travel-related illnesses.
According to the UK Health Security Agency, gastrointestinal (GI) infections remain the most common travel-related illness national – accounting for 65% of cases.
And the UKHSA revealed that countries most associated with GI infections among UK tourists are: Turkey (16.2% cases), Spain (10.4%), India (7.9%), and Egypt (6.8%).
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Regionally, the West Midlands recorded the highest number of travel-related GI infections in England, according to the UKHSA.
There were a total of 477 cases among travellers from the region – representing 17.6% of cases in England.
The main bugs causing these infections include cryptosporidium, giardia and salmonella – generally picked up from infected water and food.
As holidaymakers gear up for summer getaways abroad, the UKHSA has issued guidance to help tourists avoid travel-related infections:
During your trip
- Practise good hand hygiene by washing hands regularly with soap and water
- Follow food and water hygiene advice, for example avoid undercooked food and drink bottled water when appropriate
- Avoid insect and tick bites – use insect repellent and mosquito nets in high-risk areas
- Practise safe sex
- If you are bitten, scratched or licked by an animal in a country where rabies is found then you should wash the wound or site of exposure with plenty of soap and water and seek medical advice without delay in order to get post-exposure treatment to prevent rabies
After returning
- Seek medical advice if you have symptoms such as diarrhoea, fever, rash or jaundice
- Avoid school or work for 48 hours after gastrointestinal symptoms resolve
- Complete the full course of malaria tablets when you get home
- Get tested for STIs if you have had unprotected sex
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