UK health authorities have reported a spike in gastrointestinal infections caused by Salmonella bacteria and the majority occurred in travellers returning from the coastal region of Antalya in the country’s SW. Just over 240 cases in five clusters were recorded in the first six months of this year, the most recent on July 19. The afflicted travellers stayed in all-inclusive hotel resorts and ate ‘a wide variety of different foods’. Read more
Advice for travellers
Salmonella is a bacterium typically found in food, such as poultry, that causes diarrhoea, fever, and abdominal cramps between 12 and 72 hours after infection. Illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days, and most people recover without treatment, although diarrhoea may be so severe as to require hospital treatment. Young children and the elderly are at highest risk of severe illness. As there is no vaccine to prevent salmonellosis, it is best to avoid raw or undercooked eggs, poultry, or meat. Read more
Before you travel, call Travelvax Australia’s telephone advisory service on 1300 360 164 (toll-free from landlines) for country-specific advice and information. You can also make an appointment at your nearest Travelvax clinic to obtain vaccinations, medication to prevent or treat illness, and accessories for your journey.