Bird flu - There have been reports of an outbreak of avian influenza in Turkey, with 12 reported cases with 4 deaths (as of February 2006) in rural areas and villages - none of them in Istanbul or any major tourist city. The virus mainly affects birds and cross-infection to humans is still relatively rare. It usually occurs where people have been in close contact with infected animals.

The World Health Organization has a website on the bird flu and does not recommend any restrictions on travel to any areas affected by avian influenza. WHO recommends however, that "travellers to affected areas should avoid contact with live animal markets and poultry farms, and any free-ranging or caged poultry." There is no evidence that properly cooked poultry or poultry products can be a source of infection. You may consider taking your regular "human" flu shot before travelling, as it reduces opportunities for the virus to reassort during co-infection of a human with both avian and human influenza viruses.

Water safety - However tempting it may be on a hot day, try to avoid water from public water tanks and fountains (şadırvan), frequently found in the vicinity of mosques. Also, though tap water is always chlorinated, it is better to drink only bottled water. Supermarkets always provide the same brands of water cheaper than kiosks or little stalls. If you have no chance of finding bottled water –for example, in wilderness, up in the eastern highlands- always boil your water; if you have no chance of boiling the water, use chlorine tablets –which can be provided from pharmacies in big cities-, or devices like LifeStraw. Also avoid swimming in fresh water, which you are not sure about its purity, and at seawater in or near the big cities –unless a beach which is declared safe to swim exists. And lastly, afterall, be cautious about water, not paranoid.

Public restrooms - Though many main squares and streets in the cities have a public restroom, if you cannot manage to find one, look for the nearest mosque, where you will see a public restroom in a corner of, or below its courtyard. Despite the fact that there is no shortage of cheap toilet papers anywhere in the country, however, you are unlikely to find toilet paper in almost any of the public restrooms (except lavatories of restaurants –including the road restaurants, hotels and most of the cafés and bars, of course). Instead, you are likely to find bidét or a faucet. So it is a good idea to have a roll of toilet paper in your backpack during your walkings for sightseeing. In the better places on the road in the country there are rest rooms that are maintained and an attendent ready to collect YTL.50 to YTL 1. from the tourist for the privilege of using one.

Pharmacies - There are pharmacies (eczane in Turkish) in all cities and many towns. Pharmacies are open from 08:30 until 19:00 (07:00 pm), however every town has at least one drugstore on duty overnight (nöbetçi eczane), all other pharmacies in the town usually display its name, address and telephone numbers on their windows.