Half-term holidaymakers have been given a warning after four British tourists died from severe gastric illnesses and more than 150 became ill in recent months in Cape Verde.
The UK Health Security Agency said there had been dangerous outbreaks of shigella, which is often known as dysentery, and salmonella on the islands off the west African coast.
It said tourists should be wary of hotel buffets and should drink bottled or boiled water in certain areas and only eat fruit they had peeled themselves.
Some of the tourists stayed in the Riu Palace Santa Maria resort in Sal
Investigators found that since October there had been 112 cases of shigella in Britons who had travelled to Cape Verde, and 43 cases of salmonella.
• Is it safe to visit Cape Verde? Everything to know after holiday illness claims
Four tourists have died in the past five months from severe gastric illnesses, according to the law firm Irwin Mitchell. Mark Ashley, 55, from Bedfordshire, Elena Walsh, 64, from Birmingham, Karen Pooley, 64, from Gloucestershire, and a 56-year-old man died last year.
Almost all cases of shigella in the UK since October have been in people who have recently returned from Cape Verde, the agency said. Shigella is a bowel infection that causes severe diarrhoea, fever and stomach cramps. Salmonella is often caused by eating or handling contaminated food.
Britons account for a third of tourists to Cape Verde, where numbers have grown rapidly from 115,000 in 2000 to 981,000 in 2024.
Dr Gauri Godbole, the agency’s deputy director for gastrointestinal infections and food safety, said: “The best way to avoid gastrointestinal infections, including shigella and salmonella, or passing them to others, is simply by washing your hands regularly and thoroughly with soap and water or alcohol gel — particularly after using the toilet, changing nappies and before eating or preparing food.
“Most episodes of traveller’s diarrhoea are short-lived, lasting for a few days. During an episode of diarrhoea and vomiting, it is important to prevent dehydration, particularly for young children, pregnant women, elderly people, and those with pre-existing illnesses as they can develop complications.
“Continue to hydrate yourself with plenty of fluids and consider purchasing sachets of oral rehydration salt before travelling. If symptoms worsen or you have underlying medical conditions, please seek advice from your GP or pharmacy.”
The agency’s study found that swimming pools, water and poor sanitary conditions, as well as hotel buffets and excursions, could increase the risk of infections.
Ashley died in November after contracting severe gastric symptoms while on holiday. His wife Emma, 55, said her family were in “complete shock”.
Mark Ashley, back left, with his family
IRWIN MITCHELL/PA
She said: “We went to Cape Verde expecting a relaxing break, but Mark became violently ill and never recovered.”
The couple, who had been married for 26 years, stayed at the five‑star Riu Palace Santa Maria resort in Sal. She raised concerns about its hygiene standards.
Walsh, a part-time nurse and mother-of-one, died in August after becoming ill while staying at the Riu Cabo Verde resort on the same island.
Pooley, from Lydney, travelled with a friend to the Riu Funana resort in Sal on October 7 for a fortnight’s holiday. The retired mother-of-two became sick on October 11 with gastric symptoms including diarrhoea, and early the next day she slipped on water leaking from a fridge.
She was transferred to a clinic and over the next four days suffered diarrhoea and vomiting, alongside severe pain from her fractured femur. The 64-year-old was flown to Tenerife for urgent care on October 16 and died early the next day, lawyers said.
Her husband Andy, 62, said: “We’re utterly heartbroken. Karen was the kindest, loveliest person. She was a devoted wife and mum who loved swimming, walking the dog in the Forest of Dean and volunteered at a local charity shop. She was also a wonderful friend who lit up every room she entered. We’re devastated and struggling to understand how she went on holiday and never came home.”
Pooley’s initial death certificate, issued by the Cape Verde authorities, said she died of multi-organ failure, sepsis, cardio‑respiratory arrest and a broken left leg.
The other two Britons who have died since 2023 are Jane Pressley, 62, from Gainsborough, who died in January 2023 after becoming ill while holidaying at Riu Palace Hotel in Santa Maria, Sal, the previous November, and a man in his sixties from Watford.
The families are making personal injury claims for damages against Tui, the provider of many package holidays to the island country.
Jatinder Paul, serious injury lawyer at the firm, said: “In my experience I’m used to supporting holidaymakers who have fallen ill at resorts across the globe, but I’ve never seen repeated and continued illness outbreaks at the same resorts on such a scale over such a period of time.”
link