Nearly 5,000 people have sought medical care in Tokat, Turkiye, with complaints of nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea since Friday, Governor Abdullah Koklu said on Monday.
Axar.az reports, citing Turkish media, that around 70 people were hospitalized. Of them, 40 have been discharged, while approximately 30 remain under treatment. None of the patients is in a life-threatening condition, according to the governor.
Authorities have not yet determined the source of the illnesses. Water samples have been sent to Ankara for analysis, with results expected late Tuesday or Wednesday.
Koklu cautioned against concluding that the outbreak was caused by contaminated water before the test results are available. Municipal authorities have inspected water tanks across the city, while officials have urged residents to observe hygiene precautions when handling food and water.
Schools in central Tokat, where classes were suspended for one day to allow cleaning and disinfection, are scheduled to reopen on Tuesday, October 13. Schools in the surrounding districts have not reported similar problems.
Koklu said authorities would consider additional measures if necessary and urged parents not to send children with even mild symptoms to school.