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.