Water Warning in Tokat, Türkiye: Nearly 3,000 Seek Medical Care (First Report)
Authorities in the northern Turkish city of Tokat have issued a drinking-water warning after nearly 3,000 people sought medical care with gastrointestinal symptoms, advising residents and visitors not to drink municipal tap water or use it to prepare food.
According to FTN News on Oct. 11, hospital visits began rising Friday evening, Oct. 9, with patients reporting nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea. As of 8 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 11, a total of 2,914 people had visited health facilities with these symptoms, the Tokat Governor's Office said. Eighteen children were receiving hospital treatment, six of whom had been discharged; the children continuing treatment were reported to be in good condition, with no severe cases reported.
The cause of the illnesses remains under investigation, and authorities have not confirmed that the municipal water supply is responsible. As a precaution, the governor's office formally advised residents to switch to bottled water and avoid using tap water for cooking or washing food until the investigation concludes. Schools in central Tokat will close Monday, Oct. 12, to allow disinfection work, officials announced.
Tokat, in northern Türkiye, is an ancient city known for its Ottoman-era historic quarter, including landmarks such as Taşhan, and draws visitors each year. With the cluster of cases emerging during the travel season, the governor's office specifically urged tourists to mind drinking-water safety and to choose bottled water when dining out.
Mass gastrointestinal symptoms are often linked to contaminated water or food, but officials stressed that no conclusion should be drawn before laboratory results are in. Local health authorities have collected water samples from multiple supply points for testing and stepped up monitoring at medical facilities, promising timely updates if new clusters emerge.
Health officials advise anyone with persistent vomiting, diarrhea, fever or signs of dehydration to seek medical care promptly, with extra attention to hydration for children and the elderly.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 土耳其托卡特（Tokat）市全景与耶希尔河实景，CC BY-SA 4.0（Wikimedia Commons）
