Turkey ready to work with Russian experts to overcome Coxsackie virus
By Ali Mustafayev
Turkey is ready to cooperate with the Russian Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Protection and Welfare (Rospotrebnadzor) to assess the situation with the spread of the Coxsackie virus, Vesti reported.
Previously, media reported that the number of tourists infected with Coxsackie virus (an enterovirus infection) is growing in Turkey, with dozens of tourists allegedly forced to interrupt their vacation ahead of schedule.
Rospotrebnadzor announced that it works with Turkish colleagues over the issue, according to Vesti.
As of August 16, the hotline of Rospotrebnadzor received more than 500 appeals from the sick tourists and their families, Russia 24 reports. Over 70 percent of the affected people are kids. Most tourists who got sick were the visitors of the hotels located in Alanya, Kemer and Belek during the second half of July.
Coxsackie virus is transmitted by airborne droplets. The most frequent signs and symptoms of coxsackie virus infections are initially fever, a poor appetite, and respiratory illness, including sore throat, cough, and malaise (feeling tired).
This incubation period lasts about one to two days. Sore areas in the mouth develop in about a day or two after the initial fever and develop into small blisters that often ulcerate. Many infected people (usually children 10 years of age and younger) go on to develop a rash that itches on the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet.
Last week, the Russian Ministry of Health issued an instruction booklet for tourists planning their vacations in Turkey.
Turkey is one of the most popular summer destinations for Russian tourists. Earlier it was reported that Turkey's Antalya resorts expected to host more than 3 million Russian tourists in 2017.
This wave of disease may adversely affect the Turkish tourism sector since the vast majority of tourists came from Russia.
This summer, Turkish tourism restores after a troubled period related to incident with the shooting of Russian aircraft by Turkish military forces in late 2015. The number of foreigners visiting Turkey dropped to 25.3 million in 2016. That is a 30 percent drop compared to 2015.
After resolution of the conflict between Ankara and Moscow, Russian travel companies restored the travel packages to Turkey.
The number Russian tourists in 2017 reached its peak during the summer months. Over 2 million of Russian tourists visited Turkish resorts since the beginning of the year.
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