Almost a thousand British holidaymakers have been struck down by gastric illnesses after staying at luxury hotels in Cape Verde over the last three years.
According to representatives from law firm Irwin Mitchell, 926 tourists from the UK are pursuing legal action after being bedridden with serious illnesses linked to luxury holidays on the West African island.
British couple Cordelia Plummer and Ian Waller, both 56, were taken ill with “severe gastric symptoms”, including vomiting and diarrhoea, during a two-week stay at the five-star Riu Cabo Verde this July.
On her return to the UK after the £3,000 all-inclusive break, a GP told Cordelia the symptoms could be shigella – an infection that affects the intestine.
Cordelia said: “What was meant to be a dream two weeks on a wonderful island turned into a holiday Ian and myself will now do our best to forget.
“What started as headaches and a feeling of nausea became the worst sickness and diarrhoea I’ve ever known. I think everyone has probably had an upset stomach at one time or another, but this was something much worse. I was in the room for several days and have never felt so ill.”
Customer service worker Cordelia added that the pair from Birmingham and Hull had “concerns” about the food presentation, with lunch dishes seemingly reappearing at dinner and cockroaches spotted near the kitchen.
The couple are among ten holidaymakers who have contacted lawyers after staying at the hotel this summer.
In the summer of 2022, almost 100 tourists fell ill with shigella and salmonella following their holidays at Riu Cabo Verde, says Irwin Mitchell.
At the Riu Funana Hotel in Santa Maria, Cape Verde, 20 people came forward to make claims in 2023, while over 170 holidaymakers told lawyers they fell ill in 2022 after staying at the same hotel.
Elsewhere on Sal island, more than 300 guests of the Riu Palace Santa Maria contacted the firm following an outbreak of gastric illness two years ago.
Jatinder Paul, an international injury solicitor representing the holidaymakers, said that the “sheer volume of clients” that have come forward with illnesses following stays in Cape Verde over the last three years is “incredibly concerning”.
“The numbers involved show that these aren’t isolated incidents. The fact that significant numbers are still…
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