A significant number of British vacationers are pursuing legal action following severe gastric illnesses experienced during their stays at luxury hotels in Cape Verde, an archipelago and island country off West Africa. Over the past three years, 926 individuals have reported falling seriously ill after visiting several of the country’s resorts.
The illnesses have been so severe that many tourists required hospitalization. Since 2022, hundreds of visitors have reported contracting serious illnesses, including Shigella and Salmonella, at seven different hotels.
Among those affected were a newlywed couple on their honeymoon, a man who lost consciousness during his flight home due to illness, and a beauty therapist whose symptoms initially led doctors to suspect a stroke.
Cordelia Plummer, 56, from Birmingham, and her partner Ian Waller, 56, from Kingston-Upon-Hull, are part of a group of vacationers who have sought legal counsel. They both experienced serious gastric illness during a two-week stay at the Riu Cabo Verde hotel in Sal, Cape Verde, from July 12 through July 27 this year. The couple had booked their all-inclusive break through tour operator TUI, paying nearly $4,000 for the package.
In early July, Food Poisoning News reported on multiple accusations of food poisoning at another resort, the five-star Riu Palace Santa Maria in Cape Verde.
Jatinder Paul, an attorney at the UK law firm Irwin Mitchell representing the the disgruntled vacationers, expressed concern over the high volume of clients coming forward with similar experiences from Cape Verde over the past three years. He noted that the numbers involved suggest these are not isolated incidents and pointed to a pattern of ongoing illness.
Cordelia fell ill a week into her vacation with severe gastric symptoms, including vomiting and diarrhea. After returning to the UK, she sought medical advice for her condition. Her doctor initially suggested her symptoms could indicate Shigella.
A few days later Ian developed similar symptoms, which persisted for the remainder of the holiday and after their return to the UK. He continues to experience ongoing changes in his bowel habits.
The couple reported speaking with other guests at the hotel who were suffering from similar symptoms. Upon their return home, they were alarmed to read negative online reviews describing experiences similar to their own.
Cordelia and Ian also claimed to have observed several concerning issues at the hotel. They alleged that food was often served uncovered and lukewarm, and that the same dishes appeared to be served multiple times. They also reported seeing cockroaches in the restaurant near the dessert area.
Describing their experience as a “holiday from hell,” Cordelia said that the severity of their symptoms led them to seek medical care both during their stay and after returning home. She emphasized the shock of encountering numerous similar stories from other guests and online reviews, stating that had they been aware of these issues beforehand, they would not have booked the vacation.
The couple is among a new group of 10 vacationers who stayed at the five-star Riu Cabo Verde this summer and have hired Irwin Mitchell to represent them. Additionally, more than 20 people have contacted the firm after staying at Riu Funana Hotel in 2023.
Over 170 vacationers initiated legal action two years ago after falling ill at the same hotel. Hundreds of other tourists have also sought legal representation following illnesses at other Cape Verde hotels.
The number of reported cases has varied over the years:
– In 2022, 806 people reported illnesses
– In 2023, 65 people reported illnesses
– So far in 2024, 55 individuals have reported falling ill
Lawyer Paul emphasized the potential long-term health consequences of gastric illnesses, noting that they can sometimes result in death. He expressed concern that if the underlying causes are not addressed, the situation could potentially end in tragedy.
Paul’s legal firm has stated its intention to investigate the causes of these illnesses and are particularly interested in hearing from tourists who stayed at the affected hotels during the same periods.
As the legal proceedings continue, affected tourists are seeking answers about what happened during their stays and what steps are being taken to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
TUI, the tour operator through which many of the affected vacationers booked their trips, has not responded to requests for comment on the situation.
Commenting on this article, one national food poisoning lawyer said, “It is likely that more information will come to light regarding the circumstances surrounding these widespread illnesses. With the vast number of reported illnesses, it appears that many of the resorts have extremely poor food and hygiene safety practices.
