Tourists who arrived from Hamburg in Istanbul on November 9 decided to try local street food in the Ortaköy area. After showing symptoms of poisoning, they sought medical help.
The Minister of Health of the Republic of Turkey, Kemal Memişoğlu, stated that the doctors initially diagnosed "gastroenteritis," after which the family was sent back to their hotel. An investigation is currently underway regarding the actions of the medical personnel. However, the condition of the tourists worsened, and they were hospitalized again. First, two children died, then their mother, and a few days later — their father.
The causes of the tourists' deaths are still unclear; theories of food poisoning or the influence of toxic substances are being considered.
Photo: DW.
In connection with the incident, 11 people have been detained, including street vendors, hotel staff where the family stayed, and workers from the company that treated the hotel for pests. The hotel was fully evacuated, as it is known that two other guests had also sought medical help with symptoms of poisoning.
