4 Russian tourists suffering stomach flu remain in Turkish hospitals

Four Russian children suffering stomach flu in Turkey remain in a local hospital, a spokesman for the Russian tourism agency (Rostourism), Irina Shchegolkova, told Itar-Tass on Tuesday. “There is no threat to their life,” she said. “Local doctors decided to keep children in hospital until they fully recover.” “As a compensation for those who suffered poisoning the hotel offered a weeklong accommodation free-of-charge at any time suitable for tourists,” she said adding that all other Russians were discharged from hospitals. On August 3, 69 Russian tourists holidaying at Grand Ring Hotel in Turkey’s Beldibi asked for medical aid. All of them were diagnosed with acute gastroenteritis and received necessary medical aid. Some tourists received outpatient treatment and another fifteen were hospitalized in Kemer and Antalya. Rostourism addressed Turkey’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism with a request to investigate the incident. According to the local authorities, the situation is kept under tough control. On August 3 Antalya’s healthcare inspection took samples of food, swimming pool and sea water for sanitary and epidemiological tests. The Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism said it had sanitized adjacent facilities. Appropriate measures would be taken after tests’ results are known on August 6. Last year after the Russian tourism agency and consulate-general filed similar requests to Turkey’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism several Turkish hotels faced huge fines and one of them was deprived of a license until shortcomings are eliminated.