You should research your location before taking a trip abroad
The Foreign Office shares travel advice for British internationals heading abroad
The Foreign Office shares travel advice for British internationals heading abroad. For many families, going on holiday every year is the one thing they look forward to most. One of the most popular tourist destinations is Turkey.
One location in Turkey has recently been ranked the cheapest short-haul holiday destination for UK families. The port city of Marmaris has the lowest prices out of 16 popular locations for 10 tourist items, Post Office Travel Money said. This included just £67.67 for a three-course meal for two adults and two children with wine and soft drinks.
However, some family holidays may turn into a nightmare if research has not been done before travelling. Before travelling to any country you should check the entry requirements, safety and security, regional risks and health situation.
One problem that tourists may encounter when on holiday are stray dogs. High rates of pet abandonment, particularly during holiday seasons, and a lack of awareness about responsible pet ownership contribute to the problem.
There are several million stray animals on the streets of Turkey. Once on the streets, these dogs face a daily struggle to find food, water and shelter. The Foreign Office states: “Most towns and cities have stray dogs.
“Packs congregate in parks and wastelands and can be aggressive. Take care and do not approach stray dogs. If you’re bitten, get medical advice immediately. Rabies and other animal borne diseases are present in Turkey.”
On the government’s “rabies risks in terrestrial animals by country” section, Turkey is classed as “high risk”. This means Rabies occurs in wild and companion animals (or there are no data to prove otherwise).
Rabies is passed on through injuries such as bites and scratches from an infected animal. The virus is nearly always fatal, but post-exposure treatment is very effective at preventing disease if given promptly after exposure to the virus.
The UKHSA recently reminded travellers to be careful around animals when travelling to rabies affected countries due to the risk of catching the disease.
Rabies does not circulate in wild or domestic animals in the UK, although some species of bats can carry a rabies-like virus. No human cases of rabies acquired in the UK from animals other than bats have been reported since 1902. Between 2000 and 2024 there were six cases of human rabies associated with animal exposures abroad reported in the UK.
UKHSA says rabies is common in other parts of the world, especially in Asia and Africa. All travellers to rabies affected countries should “avoid contact” with dogs, cats and other animals wherever possible, and seek advice about the need for rabies vaccine prior to travel.
You should take “immediate action” to wash the wound or site of exposure with plenty of soap and water if you’ve been bitten or scratched by an animal while you’re abroad in a country with rabies.
You should also wash the site of exposure if an animal has licked your eyes, nose or mouth, or licked a wound you have, while you’re abroad in a country with rabies or you’ve been bitten or scratched by a bat in the UK.
It states on the NHS website: “The rabies vaccine is recommended” if you’re travelling to a part of the world where rabies is more common.