The UK Health Security Agency has issued a stark travel warning following a significant outbreak of gastrointestinal illnesses among British holidaymakers visiting Cape Verde, the popular winter sun destination. Health authorities have confirmed that more than 150 people from the UK have fallen ill with serious stomach bugs, with six British nationals having died after contracting infections during their holidays.
Investigation Reveals Alarming Infection Rates
In a detailed investigation led by the UKHSA in collaboration with other public health agencies, researchers have identified concerning patterns of infection linked to travel to the island nation. Since October 1, 118 cases of Shigella associated with international travel have been reported, with an astonishing 95 percent of those affected having visited Cape Verde. The majority of these infections occurred in the Santa Maria and Boa Vista areas, popular tourist regions.
The UKHSA has also documented increases in Salmonella cases among travellers to the holiday destination. Using sophisticated whole genome sequencing techniques, health officials have identified 43 cases of Salmonella from three separate clusters, all linked to travel to Cape Verde since October 1.
Families Seek Justice Through Legal Action
Irwin Mitchell solicitors are currently representing the families of the six deceased individuals and more than 1,500 people who have fallen ill following visits to Cape Verde. The law firm has revealed that four British people died within just four months after being struck down with severe stomach bugs while holidaying on the islands.
Among the tragic cases is Mark Ashley, a 55-year-old forklift truck driver from Bedfordshire, who died in November after falling ill during a holiday with his wife Emma at the five-star Riu Palace Santa Maria resort in Sal. His wife has expressed serious concerns about hygiene standards at the hotel, describing how her husband became violently ill just three days into their £3,000 Tui package holiday.
Elena Walsh, a 64-year-old part-time nurse from Birmingham, died in August 2025 after falling ill while staying at the Riu Cabo Verde resort. Karen Pooley, 64, from Gloucestershire, passed away in October 2025 following a holiday at the Riu Funana resort, where she contracted gastric illness and subsequently suffered a fatal fall while experiencing symptoms.
Medical Advice for Travellers
Dr Gauri Godbole, deputy director for gastrointestinal infections and food safety at the UKHSA, has emphasised the importance of preventive measures for those planning winter sun holidays. "Taking a few simple precautions against traveller's diarrhoea and food poisoning can make all the difference," she stated.
The UKHSA recommends several key precautions:
- Wash hands regularly and thoroughly with soap and water or alcohol gel
- Practice particular care after using toilets, changing nappies, and before eating or preparing food
- Choose food that is freshly prepared, fully cooked and served piping hot
- In areas without reliable clean water, drink only bottled or boiled water
- Avoid ice in drinks and only eat fruit that you peel yourself
- Consider purchasing oral rehydration salt sachets before travelling
Understanding the Infections
Shigella is a gastrointestinal infection that can cause severe diarrhoea, fever and stomach cramps, sometimes containing blood, mucus or pus in serious cases. Salmonella typically results from eating or handling contaminated food and presents with similar gastrointestinal symptoms. Both infections can be particularly dangerous for vulnerable groups including young children, pregnant women, elderly people, and those with pre-existing medical conditions.
A recent UKHSA study has identified several risk factors for such infections in holiday destinations, including local swimming pools, questionable water supplies, poor sanitary conditions, and potential contamination from hotel buffets and organised excursions.
Legal Proceedings and Industry Response
Jatinder Paul, a serious injury lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, expressed unprecedented concern about the scale of the outbreak. "I've never seen repeated and continued illness outbreaks at the same resorts on such a scale over such a period of time," he remarked. Families of all six deceased individuals are pursuing personal injury claims for damages against Tui, the provider of many package holidays to Cape Verde.
The UKHSA has updated its official travel advice on the Travel Health Pro website specifically for Cape Verde, providing detailed guidance for prospective travellers. Health authorities continue to monitor the situation closely as the winter holiday season progresses, urging holidaymakers to remain vigilant about food and water hygiene while abroad.
