Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.
Legal proceedings have now involved over 1,700 individuals who became ill during holidays in the Cape Verde islands, according to lawyers representing them. The personal injury claim is being led by the law firm Irwin Mitchell, which confirmed receiving reports from affected travelers as recently as two weeks ago. These cases allege serious health issues linked to holidays booked through the major travel company Tui.
Tui is currently reviewing these claims and expressed deep sorrow over the reported tragedies, emphasizing that customer health and safety are their foremost concerns. However, the company stated that they have yet to receive the complete Cape Verde health report, which has not been made public. Jatinder Paul of Irwin Mitchell stated on BBC Breakfast that the scale of this case is unprecedented in his experience, particularly due to the number of fatalities connected to the illnesses contracted.
Clients involved in the lawsuits reportedly suffered from various gastric diseases, including E. coli, salmonella, shigella, and parasitic infections such as cryptosporidium. Among those affected are young children, some as young as six months old. Public health investigations have supported these concerns; in February, the UK Health Security Agency found over 100 cases of shigella and 43 cases of salmonella related to travel to Cape Verde since October 2025. Both infections typically involve symptoms like diarrhea, stomach cramps, and fever.
Several individuals and families have shared their devastating experiences. One such family lost Elena Walsh, a 64-year-old woman from Birmingham, who fell ill during her stay at the five-star RIU Cabo Verde resort in August last year and passed away shortly after being hospitalized. Her son urged caution for others considering holidays to the destination, stating, “If people are willing to run that risk, then go for it but I’d say to people: don’t.” RIU Hotels and Resorts responded by affirming their commitment to strict health and hygiene standards, certified by independent experts.
Another tragic case involved Karen Pooley from Lydney, who died in October following gastric illness on a Tui holiday. After falling ill, she suffered an injury due to a slip and was later airlifted to Tenerife, where she succumbed to sepsis and multi-organ failure. Karen’s daughter, Liz Pooley, holds Tui responsible, expressing the pain of losing her mother so suddenly. Tui has maintained that they cannot discuss individual cases but reassured that they prioritize customer health and have procedures to support unwell holidaymakers, including facilitating access to medical care and working with local health authorities
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.