Turkey

MAIN HEALTH RISKS

• There are sporadic cases of malaria in the south-east of the country.
• The avian flu, which killed 4 in Turkey in 2006, has reappeared in 2007 in the departments of Batman and Diyarbakir, in the south-east of the country.
• Crimea-Congo hemorrhagic fever is occasionnally present in the country. This viral tick-borne disease is particularly present in the departments of Central Anatolia (Sivas, Tokat and Corum) and the Black Sea coast. Forests around Istanbul and Ankara are also high-risk zones.
• There are cases of animal rabies in the country. A 36-month European program, with a 12-million-euro budget, has been set up in May 2006 to eradicate rabies.
• Diarrheic diseases are common.

FOOD SAFETY

• Gastric diseases are common among tourists who are not accustomed to local food or who do not take precautions.
• Do not drink tap water and favor bottled mineral water, without ice ; avoid eating ice cream and sherbet.
• Avoid eating raw or undercooked dishes, especially meat or fish. If possible, order hot dishes.
• Bring anti-diarrhea medication with you.
• Wash your hands carefully before each meal.

IMMUNIZATIONS AND MEDICATION

• No specific immunization is required from travelers entering the country.
Systematically:
• Hepatitis A: the vaccination is available for children at least one year old. For persons who were born before 1945, who have spent their childhood in a developing country or who have had an icterus, it may prove useful to search previously for serous antibodies in order to avoid an unnecessary shot.
• Hepatitis B: the vaccination is available for children at least two months old.
• Diphtheria, tetanus, poliomyelitis: get a booster shot before leaving if your last shot is more than ten years old.



Depending on the duration and conditions of the trip:
• Typhoid fever: if the stay is occurring in precarious hygiene condition. The immunization is available for children at least 2 years old.
• Rabies: recommended for long stays in isolation. The immunization should be given to children as soon as they are able to walk.
• Tuberculosis: in case of a long stay, it is recommended to have children immunized against tuberculosis as soon as they reach the age of one month, and against mumps, measles and rubella when they reach the age of nine months.

HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURES

Istanbul
• American Hospital, Guzelbahce Sk. No. 20, Nisantasi: phone (212) 231 4050, fax (212) 232 1432
• International Hospital Istanbul, Istanbul Cad. No. 82, Yesilkoy: phone (212) 663 3000, fax (212) 663 2862
• German hospital, Siraselviler Cad., No : 119, Taksim: phone (212) 293 2150, fax (212) 252 3911



Izmir
• Eylul University Hospital, Inciralti: phone (232) 259 5959, fax (232) 259 9723

EMERGENCY CONTACTS

• Firemen: 110
• Police: 155
• Ambulances: 112

CLIMATE

• Climate is meditarranean on the shores of the Aegan sea and the Mediterranean sea, hot in the summer and mild during the winter. It is continental inside the country, with temperatures dropping below 0°C during the winter, and sometimes reaching 40°C in the summer, particularly in Anatolia. On the shore of the Black Sea (northern Turkey), climate is milder and wetter.
• When to go: between April and May or in September-October.