Vacationers Seek Justice After Gastric Illnesses at Cape Verde Resorts

A significant number of British vacationers are pursuing legal action following severe gastric illnesses experienced during their stays at luxury hotels in Cape Verde, an archipelago and island country off West Africa. Over the past three years, hundreds of individuals have reported falling seriously ill after visiting several of the country's resorts, with many requiring hospitalization.

Uncovering the Alarming Trend of Illness Outbreaks at Cape Verde's Luxury Retreats

Widespread Gastric Illnesses Plague Cape Verde Resorts

Since 2022, hundreds of visitors have reported contracting serious illnesses, including Shigella and Salmonella, at seven different hotels in Cape Verde. The illnesses have been so severe that many tourists required hospitalization, with some experiencing life-threatening symptoms. Among those affected were a newlywed couple on their honeymoon, a man who lost consciousness during his flight home due to illness, and a beauty therapist whose symptoms initially led doctors to suspect a stroke.

Disgruntled Vacationers Seek Legal Recourse

Cordelia Plummer, 56, from Birmingham, and her partner Ian Waller, 56, from Kingston-Upon-Hull, are part of a group of vacationers who have sought legal counsel. They both experienced severe gastric illness during a two-week stay at the Riu Cabo Verde hotel in Sal, Cape Verde, in July 2023. The couple had booked their all-inclusive break through tour operator TUI, paying nearly $4,000 for the package.Jatinder Paul, an attorney at the UK law firm Irwin Mitchell representing the disgruntled vacationers, expressed concern over the high volume of clients coming forward with similar experiences from Cape Verde over the past three years. He noted that the numbers involved suggest these are not isolated incidents and pointed to a pattern of ongoing illness.

Disturbing Observations at the Riu Cabo Verde Hotel

Cordelia and Ian reported several concerning issues at the Riu Cabo Verde hotel. They alleged that food was often served uncovered and lukewarm, and that the same dishes appeared to be served multiple times. They also reported seeing cockroaches in the restaurant near the dessert area.The couple is among a new group of 10 vacationers who stayed at the five-star Riu Cabo Verde this summer and have hired Irwin Mitchell to represent them. Additionally, more than 20 people have contacted the firm after staying at Riu Funana Hotel in 2023.

Ongoing Legal Action and Potential Long-Term Consequences

Over 170 vacationers initiated legal action two years ago after falling ill at the same hotel. Hundreds of other tourists have also sought legal representation following illnesses at other Cape Verde hotels.Lawyer Paul emphasized the potential long-term health consequences of gastric illnesses, noting that they can sometimes result in death. He expressed concern that if the underlying causes are not addressed, the situation could potentially end in tragedy.Paul's legal firm has stated its intention to investigate the causes of these illnesses and are particularly interested in hearing from tourists who stayed at the affected hotels during the same periods. As the legal proceedings continue, affected tourists are seeking answers about what happened during their stays and what steps are being taken to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.TUI, the tour operator through which many of the affected vacationers booked their trips, has not responded to requests for comment on the situation.