Holiday Lawyers instructed by passenger following Shigella infection on TUI river cruise

Holiday Lawyers • August 25, 2026

Holiday Lawyers has been instructed to investigate a claim on behalf of a passenger who became seriously unwell with a confirmed Shigella infection during an all inclusive TUI river cruise in January 2026.


Our client developed gastrointestinal symptoms while travelling and subsequently sought medical assistance. She has supporting evidence from her GP together with laboratory test results confirming that she contracted Shigella.


Despite this medical evidence, TUI has so far declined to accept responsibility for the illness.


What is Shigella?


Shigella is a highly infectious bacterial infection affecting the digestive system. The illness it causes is known as shigellosis or bacillary dysentery.


According to the UK Health Security Agency, symptoms can include:


  • Diarrhoea, which may contain blood
  • Severe stomach cramps
  • Fever
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Headaches
  • Loss of appetite


Symptoms commonly begin between one and three days after exposure, although it can take up to a week for a person to become unwell. While many people recover within several days, the illness can last for up to two weeks and some patients require hospital treatment.


Shigella is not simply another name for food poisoning. It is a specific bacterial infection which can be transmitted through contaminated food or water, contact with contaminated surfaces or direct person to person transmission. Only a very small quantity of the bacteria is required to cause infection.


Illness aboard cruise ships and river cruises


Cruise holidays can present particular infection control challenges because large numbers of passengers and crew share dining facilities, toilets, communal areas and frequently touched surfaces.


Where appropriate hygiene and infection control procedures are not followed, an infectious organism may spread rapidly. Important measures can include:


  • Effective handwashing facilities
  • Proper cleaning and disinfection of communal areas
  • Safe food preparation and storage
  • Appropriate management of drinking water
  • Prompt isolation of passengers or crew displaying symptoms
  • Accurate recording and reporting of illness
  • Enhanced cleaning following reports of gastrointestinal symptoms


An individual case must always be investigated on its own evidence. Relevant material may include medical records, laboratory results, the timing of symptoms, food and excursion histories, hygiene documentation and evidence of similar illness among other passengers or crew.


TUI has denied responsibility


Our client initially approached TUI directly but was unable to resolve the matter. She also sought assistance from her travel insurer and ABTA before instructing Holiday Lawyers.


We are now investigating the circumstances in which she became infected, the hygiene and infection control arrangements operating during the cruise and whether other passengers experienced similar symptoms.


TUI’s present refusal to accept responsibility does not determine whether a viable legal claim exists. Tour operators frequently dispute holiday illness claims at an early stage, even where a passenger has clear medical evidence confirming the organism responsible.


Where a cruise forms part of a package holiday, the tour operator may be legally responsible for the proper performance of the travel services included within the package under the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018.


“Laboratory confirmation is important evidence”


Aman Dhillon, Founder of Holiday Lawyers and a specialist international travel lawyer, said:


“We have been instructed by a passenger who has laboratory evidence confirming that she contracted Shigella following illness during an all inclusive TUI river cruise.


“Shigella can cause a severe and extremely unpleasant illness. It is also highly infectious and can be transmitted through contaminated food or water, contaminated surfaces or person to person contact.


“The fact that a tour operator has declined to accept responsibility does not bring the matter to an end. We will now investigate the evidence surrounding the infection, the hygiene arrangements aboard the cruise and whether there were reports of illness affecting any other passengers.”


Aman has acted for thousands of clients affected by illness abroad and has recovered millions of pounds in damages on their behalf.


Unlike volume law firms, Holiday Lawyers is a specialist practice focused on helping people who have become seriously unwell while on holiday. Every case receives specialist attention and Aman remains personally involved in the strategic and technical conduct of each claim.


Were you ill on the same TUI river cruise?


Holiday Lawyers would like to hear from anyone who travelled on a TUI river cruise in January 2026 and developed diarrhoea, vomiting, stomach cramps, fever or other gastrointestinal symptoms.


Evidence from other passengers may help establish whether there was a wider pattern of illness aboard the vessel.

If you became unwell during or following a TUI cruise, contact Holiday Lawyers for a free initial assessment. We may be able to investigate your case under a no win, no fee agreement.


Contact Holiday Lawyers today to discuss your potential holiday illness claim.

By Holiday Lawyers August 18, 2026
A major Salmonella outbreak affecting people across the UK has resulted in 207 confirmed cases, dozens of hospital admissions and one death , according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). The outbreak is being investigated by UKHSA and the Food Standards Agency, with the strongest evidence identified so far pointing towards egg consumption and potentially eggs imported from outside the UK . Holiday Lawyers founder Aman Dhillon , a Solicitor Advocate who represented victims of the major imported egg Salmonella outbreak in 2014, is urging anyone seriously affected by the latest outbreak to preserve evidence and seek specialist advice. The official UKHSA outbreak report was published on 18 August 2026. The outbreak has also been widely reported nationally, including by Sky News and ITV News . What do we know about the latest Salmonella outbreak? According to UKHSA, 207 confirmed cases of Salmonella Enteritidis associated with the outbreak have been identified between 11 August 2025 and 1 August 2026. Of these: 199 cases are in England 6 are in Scotland 1 is in Wales 1 is in Northern Ireland 47 cases are in London 38 cases are in Yorkshire and the Humber 38% of those for whom information was available were admitted to hospital Two people developed bloodstream infections One death has been associated with the outbreak Those affected range from babies to people aged 90. UKHSA says whole genome sequencing has shown that the confirmed cases belong to the same genetic cluster, indicating a common source of contamination . Investigators have interviewed more than 100 people affected by the outbreak. A significant proportion reported eating food prepared outside their home before becoming ill. UKHSA says the evidence surrounding egg consumption is currently the strongest signal identified during the investigation . Food chain investigations have established that some of the premises concerned received eggs from several sources, including egg importers . At present, UKHSA says that no link has been identified with UK produced eggs or poultry . The similarities with the 2014 imported egg Salmonella outbreak The circumstances will be particularly familiar to Aman Dhillon. In 2014, while a partner and Head of the Public Health team at Irwin Mitchell, Aman represented 28 people who contracted Salmonella after eating at The Real China restaurant in Eastleigh, Hampshire . The restaurant cases formed part of a much wider national Salmonella outbreak associated with eggs originating from Germany. The group represented by Aman ultimately recovered a £275,000 settlement . The settlement and his involvement in the case were reported at the time by The Caterer and FarmingUK . The wider 2014 outbreak, which affected almost 250 people in Britain and was investigated in connection with a single source of eggs, was also reported by The Guardian . Aman said: “The parallels with 2014 are striking. Then, as now, the evidence pointed towards imported eggs and ordinary consumers became seriously ill simply as a result of eating food they believed was safe. “What is particularly concerning about the present outbreak is the severity being reported. More than one in three of those for whom information is available required hospital admission, two people developed bloodstream infections and one death has been associated with the outbreak. “Confirmed cases are also unlikely to represent every person affected. Many people who develop gastric illness never provide a stool sample and their illness is therefore never laboratory confirmed. “Anyone who believes they may have been affected should preserve their medical records, receipts, booking information and any other evidence identifying where and what they ate. This is particularly important for anybody who required hospital treatment or received a confirmed Salmonella diagnosis.” What are the symptoms of Salmonella? Salmonella commonly causes gastrointestinal illness. Symptoms can include: diarrhoea stomach cramps nausea vomiting fever or a high temperature Symptoms will often develop within a few days of exposure to contaminated food. For many people the illness resolves without significant medical treatment. In more serious cases, however, Salmonella can lead to dehydration, hospitalisation and invasive infection. Bloodstream infections and sepsis are among the potentially serious complications identified by UKHSA, particularly among vulnerable individuals. Can you claim compensation after contracting Salmonella? Where Salmonella has been contracted because contaminated food was supplied by a restaurant, hotel, takeaway, caterer or other food business, those affected may have grounds to pursue compensation. Every case depends upon its individual circumstances and establishing the likely source of infection can be crucial. Evidence can include: stool sample results confirming Salmonella GP and hospital records receipts and bank or card transactions restaurant bookings photographs of meals information about what was eaten details of others who ate at the same premises and became ill public health or environmental health investigations In a significant outbreak, evidence from numerous individuals can help establish a pattern and identify a common source. Specialist Salmonella and food poisoning lawyers Aman Dhillon has approximately 20 years’ experience acting in food poisoning and serious illness cases. He previously founded and headed the Public Health team at Irwin Mitchell and has represented thousands of people affected by illness outbreaks in the UK and overseas, including large group actions arising from Salmonella and other foodborne pathogens. He now leads Holiday Lawyers , a specialist practice representing people affected by food poisoning, holiday illness and serious illness outbreaks both within the UK and abroad. Commenting on the latest investigation, Aman added: “Food businesses and those responsible for placing food into the supply chain have important legal responsibilities concerning consumer safety. “In 2014 we were able to secure compensation for a group of people affected by an outbreak connected with imported eggs. The priority now must be to establish precisely what has caused this outbreak and ensure that those responsible are held accountable where the evidence supports it. “Above all, there is now a family who have lost somebody in circumstances associated with this outbreak. That demonstrates why food safety and proper investigation of outbreaks such as this matter so much.” Have you been affected by the UK Salmonella outbreak? If you have been diagnosed with Salmonella , required hospital treatment following serious gastrointestinal illness, or believe your illness may be connected with the current outbreak, Holiday Lawyers can provide specialist advice . Our lawyers have extensive experience investigating both individual food poisoning claims and major group outbreaks. Contact Holiday Lawyers today to discuss your case.  www.holidaylawyers.co.uk
By Holiday Lawyers August 4, 2026
Holiday Lawyers has been instructed to investigate a potential holiday illness claim after a nine year old boy was hospitalised for three nights with acute gastroenteritis following a Jet2 package holiday to the Calista Luxury Resort in Belek, Turkey. The child became seriously unwell during the family’s stay and required admission to hospital, where he underwent blood and stool testing, received intravenous fluids and antibiotic treatment before eventually being discharged. The family has retained comprehensive medical records, hospital reports and invoices relating to the illness, and has now instructed Holiday Lawyers to advise on a potential claim. Amandeep Dhillon, Founder of Holiday Lawyers, said: “Every parent dreads seeing their child become seriously ill while abroad. What should have been a relaxing family holiday instead resulted in a hospital admission, invasive investigations and several days of treatment. “We are now reviewing the available evidence, including the medical records and chronology of events, to assess the merits of a claim. Cases involving hospitalisation overseas often require careful investigation and early preservation of evidence. “We would usually recommend that holidaymakers seek specialist legal advice before entering into detailed correspondence with the tour operator, as the way a claim is presented from the outset can be important.” Holiday Lawyers has represented thousands of holidaymakers over many years and recovered millions of pounds in compensation for clients affected by illness abroad. The firm is currently acting for clients in relation to food poisoning and gastric illness claims arising from a number of destinations worldwide. If you or a member of your family has suffered serious illness during a package holiday abroad, Holiday Lawyers offers a free initial assessment of your potential claim.