HolidayLawyers concerned by rise in travellers hospitalised with serious infections after holidays abroad

Holiday Lawyers • September 10, 2026

Concern grows as holidaymakers report hospital treatment and continuing symptoms after stays in Cape Verde, Turkey, the Caribbean and other popular destinations.


HolidayLawyers has seen a significant increase in enquiries from holidaymakers who say they have been hospitalised after contracting serious bacterial and parasitic infections while travelling abroad.


The specialist holiday illness law firm has been contacted by people returning from popular destinations including Cape Verde, Turkey and resorts across the Caribbean, as well as other destinations throughout Europe, North Africa and the Mediterranean.


Aman Dhillon, Founder and Solicitor Advocate at HolidayLawyers, says a growing number of those contacting the firm are not describing a short lived stomach bug, but severe illness involving hospital admission, intravenous treatment, prolonged symptoms and, in some cases, continuing health problems after returning to the UK.


The enquiries include holidaymakers diagnosed with or suspected of suffering from infections such as Salmonella, E. coli, Cryptosporidium, Cyclospora, Shigella and other gastrointestinal pathogens.


Aman said:


“We are becoming increasingly concerned by the seriousness of some of the cases being brought to us.”

“These are not simply people who have had an upset stomach for a day or two. We are speaking to holidaymakers who have required hospital treatment, have been unable to fly home, have needed further treatment after returning to the UK and, in some cases, remain unwell weeks or months later.”

“We are seeing enquiries involving holidays in destinations including Cape Verde and Turkey, as well as resorts throughout the Caribbean.”

“When somebody becomes seriously ill while staying at a hotel or resort abroad, it is important that the cause of the illness is properly investigated rather than simply assuming it will resolve.”


Serious illness at hotels and all inclusive resorts


Many of the enquiries received by HolidayLawyers involve guests staying at all inclusive hotels and resorts, where large numbers of holidaymakers may eat from the same restaurants, buffets and food preparation areas or use shared swimming pools and other facilities.


Where several guests become ill during the same period, this can be particularly important when investigating the potential source of an infection.


HolidayLawyers has extensive experience investigating illness at hotels and resorts abroad and has previously undertaken inspections of hotel and food hygiene conditions in destinations including Cape Verde.


The firm also deals with enquiries arising from holidays in Turkey, where large all inclusive resorts remain particularly popular with British holidaymakers, and from destinations throughout the Caribbean, including claims involving serious gastrointestinal illness following hotel stays.


Potential sources of infection can include contaminated food or water, inadequate food handling or temperature control, poor hygiene practices and contaminated swimming or recreational water.


Serious holiday illness can continue long after the holiday ends


Foodborne and waterborne infections can cause severe acute symptoms including diarrhoea, vomiting, abdominal pain, fever and dehydration.


For some patients, however, recovery does not end when the initial infection clears.


HolidayLawyers regularly considers cases involving longer term gastrointestinal symptoms, fatigue and post infectious irritable bowel syndrome [PI IBS], as well as cases where further medical investigation is required because symptoms have persisted.


Aman said:


“One of the mistakes people sometimes make is assuming that once the infection itself has passed, the claim is simply about the week or two when they were acutely ill. That is not necessarily the case.”


“The longer term consequences of serious gastrointestinal infection can be extremely important, both medically and when assessing the value of a compensation claim. It is why we place considerable emphasis on obtaining appropriate medical evidence rather than treating every holiday illness case in the same way.”


Hospitalised after becoming ill in Cape Verde, Turkey or the Caribbean?


HolidayLawyers acts for people who have suffered serious illness following stays at hotels, all inclusive resorts, package holidays and cruises.


The firm can investigate claims involving holidays to Cape Verde, Turkey, the Caribbean and other destinations abroad, including cases involving contaminated food or water, poor hygiene controls and outbreaks affecting multiple guests.

Important evidence can include medical and hospital records, stool sample and laboratory results identifying the pathogen, photographs or videos of hotel conditions, reports of other guests becoming ill, complaints made to the hotel or tour operator, receipts for additional expenses and evidence that somebody was medically unable to fly home.


Aman said:


“In serious cases, the medical evidence can be critical.”

“We have acted for people across the full spectrum of holiday illness claims, including very serious Salmonella infections and, tragically, for families who have lost loved ones following infection.”

“When somebody has been hospitalised, or continues to suffer symptoms after returning home, the case deserves to be investigated properly.”


Specialist holiday illness solicitors


HolidayLawyers specialises in claims arising from accidents and illness abroad.


Its lawyers have decades of experience representing thousands of injured and ill holidaymakers and recovering millions of pounds in compensation.


The firm acts on a No Win No Fee basis in appropriate cases, with a maximum deduction from damages of 25 percent.

Anyone who has been hospitalised or seriously ill after a holiday in Cape Verde, Turkey, the Caribbean or elsewhere abroad, including those diagnosed with Salmonella, E. coli, Cryptosporidium, Cyclospora, Shigella or another gastrointestinal infection, can contact HolidayLawyers for an initial discussion about their case.



  Hospitalised after serious illness abroad? Contact HolidayLawyers to discuss your case with a specialist holiday illness lawyer.

 

HOLIDAY LAWYERS INSTRUCTED BY FAMILY FOLLOWING SERIOUS ILLNESS AT TURKISH RESORT

By Holiday Lawyers • September 3, 2026
Holiday Lawyers have been instructed by a family following a serious outbreak of illness during a package holiday to Turkey. The family of five travelled to a resort in Turkey on a package holiday. All five members of the family became unwell during the holiday, with symptoms sufficiently severe that three members of the group required hospital treatment. Two members of the family became so unwell that they were unable to take their scheduled flight home and had to remain in Turkey, where they required hospitalisation and further medical treatment. A third member of the family required hospital treatment following their return to the United Kingdom. The family believe that their illnesses may have originated from the swimming pool at the resort and concerns have been raised regarding the hygiene and maintenance of the pool facilities. Swimming pools which are not properly treated, maintained and monitored can provide a route for the transmission of gastrointestinal infections. Bacterial, viral and parasitic pathogens can potentially be spread through contaminated recreational water. Holiday Lawyers are now investigating the circumstances surrounding the family’s illnesses, including the hygiene standards at the resort, the management and treatment of the swimming pool and whether other guests were affected during the same period. Aman Dhillon, Solicitor Advocate and Founder of Holiday Lawyers, said: “We have been instructed by a family of five, all of whom became ill during their holiday, with three members of the family requiring hospital treatment. “Two were so unwell that they could not fly home and had to remain in Turkey for treatment. Another member of the family subsequently required hospital treatment in the UK. “These are clearly very concerning circumstances. We will now investigate the standards of hygiene at the resort, including the family’s concerns surrounding the swimming pool, and whether there is evidence of a wider outbreak amongst guests. “I have personally acted for thousands of clients who have stayed at Turkish resorts and subsequently pursued claims arising from illness suffered during their holidays. As part of that work, I have also personally inspected resorts in Turkey in connection with food hygiene standards and the circumstances giving rise to outbreaks of illness. “That experience gives us a detailed understanding of the hygiene issues which can arise at overseas resorts and the evidence which needs to be examined when investigating cases of this nature.” Our lawyers have decades of experience acting for thousands of people who have suffered illness or accidents abroad, recovering millions of pounds in damages. This includes some of the most high profile international litigation such as the largest illness class actions ever brought in the UK, the Costa Concordia and the salmonella outbreak. Holiday Lawyers specialise in claims arising from serious illness and injury suffered overseas, including claims involving hotels, tour operators and package holidays.  Anyone who has recently stayed at a resort in Turkey and experienced serious gastric illness or required medical treatment is invited to contact Holiday Lawyers for advice.

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

By 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.