Holiday illness in Cape Verde – Holiday Lawyers continue to be instructed by affected travellers

Holiday Lawyers • April 14, 2026

Holiday Lawyers continue to be instructed by individuals who have fallen seriously ill while staying at all-inclusive resorts in Cape Verde, and have today been contacted by a further client reporting significant gastrointestinal illness following a package holiday.


The enquiry relates to a stay at Hotel Riu Cabo Verde in Sal, booked through TUI. The client reports becoming unwell on day two of the holiday with severe diarrhoea, requiring them to stop eating at the hotel for the remainder of the trip due to concerns about food safety. The illness continued for approximately one week after returning to the UK.


Importantly, another member of the same travelling party, staying at the same hotel, also became seriously unwell,

experiencing persistent vomiting throughout the holiday and remaining symptomatic for several weeks after returning home. A stool sample was provided in that case, and the illness was reported to the tour operator at the time.


This pattern — early onset illness, multiple individuals affected within the same accommodation, and symptoms continuing after return to the UK — is consistent with a growing number of cases we are currently investigating.


A developing pattern of illness in Cape Verde resorts


Holiday Lawyers are presently acting for a number of clients who have reported illness at resorts across Cape Verde, particularly on the island of Sal. The reports share common features:


Illness developing within the first few days of arrival; symptoms including diarrhoea, vomiting and stomach cramps; more than one person affected within the same hotel or travelling group; illness persisting after return to the UK.


These are not isolated complaints. Taken together, they point towards potential systemic issues relating to food hygiene and safety standards within certain resort environments.


First-hand investigations into food hygiene standards


Holiday Lawyers have taken the additional step of travelling to Cape Verde with independent food hygiene experts to assess conditions on the ground.


These inspections have identified a number of concerns consistent with the types of illness being reported by returning holidaymakers. While each case must be assessed on its own facts, the findings from these visits provide important context when considering whether reasonable hygiene standards are being maintained.


Where food is prepared, stored or served in conditions that fall below acceptable standards, there is a clear risk of contamination and subsequent illness.


Your legal position following illness abroad


Where a package holiday has been booked through a UK tour operator such as TUI, consumers benefit from protection under the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018.


In practical terms, this means that if illness is caused by failures in food hygiene or sanitation at the hotel, liability may rest with the tour operator, rather than requiring the consumer to pursue a claim overseas.


Key factors that are typically relevant include the timing of the illness, whether others in the same accommodation were affected, medical evidence including GP attendance or stool samples, and whether the illness was reported to the hotel or tour operator.


Even where a stool sample has not been provided, claims can still proceed where there is sufficient supporting evidence.


What to do if you have been affected


If you have experienced illness during a holiday in Cape Verde, it is important to seek legal advice at an early stage.

Holiday Lawyers offer specialist expertise in international illness claims and have acted in a significant number of cases involving major tour operators. Our team understands both the evidential and strategic issues involved in pursuing these claims successfully.


Contact Holiday Lawyers


If you have been affected by illness during a holiday in Cape Verde, you can contact Holiday Lawyers for a confidential assessment of your case.


We continue to be instructed in relation to these matters and are actively investigating claims arising from resorts across the region.


Frequently asked questions – holiday illness in Cape Verde


Can I claim compensation for illness in Cape Verde?

Yes. If your illness was caused by poor food hygiene or contamination at a hotel booked as part of a package holiday, you may be entitled to bring a claim against the UK tour operator under the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018.


Do I need a stool sample to make a holiday illness claim?

No. While a stool sample can assist in identifying the cause of illness, claims can and do succeed without one. The timing of symptoms, medical records, and evidence that others were affected can be sufficient.


Why are multiple people getting ill in Cape Verde resorts?

Where more than one guest becomes unwell within the same hotel, it may indicate wider issues such as poor food handling, cross-contamination, or failures in hygiene standards.


How long do symptoms of holiday food poisoning last?

Symptoms can vary. In some cases, they resolve within a few days. In others, particularly where infection is more severe, symptoms can persist for several weeks after returning to the UK.



Who is responsible for illness on a package holiday?

Where the holiday was booked as part of a package, responsibility typically rests with the tour operator. They are legally accountable for failures at the hotel or resort, including issues relating to food hygiene and sanitation.

Three deaths on cruise ship linked to suspected hantavirus outbreak: what holidaymakers need to know

By Holiday Lawyers • May 5, 2026
A serious health incident has emerged aboard a cruise ship in the Atlantic, with three passengers dead and others critically ill following a suspected hantavirus outbreak. The situation highlights that holiday illness risks are not confined to food poisoning, but can extend to rare and potentially fatal infections where hygiene and safety controls fall below acceptable standards. What happened on the cruise ship? Reports confirm that a 70-year-old passenger became unwell and died onboard, his wife later died after evacuation to hospital, and a third passenger has also died. Another British passenger remains in intensive care. Multiple cases have been identified, with at least one confirmed hantavirus infection. The cruise was travelling from Argentina to Cape Verde when the outbreak occurred. What is hantavirus and why does it matter legally? Hantavirus is a rare but serious infection typically linked to exposure to rodent contamination (droppings, urine, or saliva). Its presence on a cruise ship raises immediate questions about pest control measures, environmental hygiene standards, maintenance of passenger areas, and whether risks were properly identified and managed. If conditions onboard allowed exposure to occur, it may represent a failure in safety systems. Liability in cruise ship illness claims Where illness arises during a cruise or package holiday, liability is governed by the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018. Cruise operators must ensure that onboard conditions are safe and provided with reasonable care and skill. Where there are failures in hygiene, pest control, environmental safety, or medical response, affected passengers may be entitled to bring a claim. Cruise ship illness claims: beyond food poisoning Most holiday illness claims involve norovirus outbreaks, food poisoning, or contaminated water. However, any illness caused by unsafe conditions during a holiday can form the basis of a claim. The focus is whether the risk should have been prevented, whether proper systems were in place, and whether the operator acted appropriately. Proven experience in cruise illness claims At Holiday Lawyers, our lawyers have extensive experience recovering damages for passengers affected by illness, hygiene failures, and health issues on cruise ships, including cases involving large numbers of affected travellers. Holiday Lawyers is also currently acting for a number of individuals who have experienced issues on cruise ships, reflecting the continued frequency of illness outbreaks and safety concerns within the sector. What should passengers do if they fall ill on a cruise? Passengers should seek medical attention immediately, report symptoms to onboard staff, document conditions where possible, retain medical records and receipts, and avoid signing documents without advice. Early evidence is often decisive. A wider issue in the cruise industry Cruise ships are contained environments where illness can spread rapidly if hygiene or safety systems fail. Operators are expected to maintain robust sanitation protocols, effective pest control systems, and immediate outbreak response procedures. How Holiday Lawyers can assist Holiday Lawyers specialise in serious holiday illness and cruise ship claims, including cases involving hospitalisation, long-term complications, and multi-claimant outbreaks. The focus is on building clear, evidence-driven cases that establish breach and causation. Final thought  This incident is a reminder that cruise illness claims are not limited to minor gastric issues. Where safety systems fail, the consequences can be severe and operators will be expected to answer for those failures.

Salmonella Outbreak in Sicily (Jet2 Holidays) – What You Need to Know

By Holiday Lawyers • April 29, 2026
We are currently instructed by a number of individuals who contracted Salmonella poisoning whilst staying at a resort in Sicily on an all-inclusive package holiday booked through Jet2holidays. Early indications suggest this may form part of a wider outbreak affecting multiple guests at the same hotel . If you were affected, you should seek legal advice as soon as possible. What Has Happened? We have now been contacted by several holidaymakers who report: Severe gastrointestinal illness during or shortly after their stay Confirmed or suspected Salmonella infection Multiple guests at the same resort falling ill at the same time In one case, our client contracted Salmonella poisoning in Sicily and was hospitalised for 8 days upon return to the UK . The situation was made more serious by underlying type 1 diabetes , significantly increasing the risks and complications. We are also aware of at least one fellow guest staying at the same hotel who became seriously ill with the same condition , raising serious concerns about food hygiene and infection control standards at the resort. Why This Matters Salmonella is not a minor illness. It can cause: Severe dehydration Prolonged diarrhoea and vomiting Hospitalisation in serious cases Increased risk where there are underlying health conditions Whilst many travellers reasonably expect high food hygiene standards within European resorts, our experience shows that this is not always the case. Our lawyers have previously acted for a family in a tragic case where a family member died after contracting Salmonella at the Grand Hotel in Italy. That case underlines the fact that, whilst uncommon, the consequences of foodborne illness can be extremely serious where proper standards are not maintained. Where multiple guests fall ill at the same hotel, this often points to systemic failures , such as: Contaminated food or poor food handling practices Inadequate hygiene standards Cross-contamination within buffet or kitchen areas Your Legal Rights If your holiday was booked as a package, your claim is governed by the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018. In straightforward terms: Your tour operator has a legal responsibility to ensure the hotel is safe You do not need to pursue the hotel abroad Claims are brought in the UK against the package provider Where illness arises due to poor hygiene or unsafe food, that is typically a clear breach of duty . Evidence Is Key If you were affected, the following can materially strengthen your claim: Medical records (UK or abroad) Stool sample confirmation of Salmonella Photographs of food, hygiene issues, or the hotel environment Booking confirmation showing the package provider Details of other guests who were ill Even if you do not have all of the above, you should still get in touch. We can assist in gathering the necessary evidence. A Pattern of Illness One of the most significant factors in cases like this is multiple guests becoming ill at the same resort . Where that pattern emerges, it strengthens: The argument that the illness originated at the hotel The likelihood of a common source outbreak The overall evidential position against the tour operator We are currently assessing whether this situation forms part of a larger cluster of claims . How We Can Help At Holiday Lawyers, we specialise in holiday illness claims , including outbreaks involving Salmonella, E. coli and other gastrointestinal infections. We have acted in claims involving: Major tour operators Large-scale hotel outbreaks High-value claims involving hospitalisation and complications We understand both the medical evidence and the legal framework required to pursue these cases effectively. Get in Touch If you stayed at a resort in Sicily with Jet2holidays and suffered from food poisoning or Salmonella, we would like to hear from you. You may have a claim for compensation, particularly where: You required medical treatment or hospitalisation Other guests were also unwell Your illness disrupted your holiday or recovery on return  Contact Holiday Lawyers today for a free, no-obligation assessment of your claim.