Thousands of British holidaymakers are embroiled in a mounting health crisis after trips to Cape Verde, with more than 1,700 individuals now taking legal action against travel giant Tui. The lawsuits, spearheaded by the law firm Irwin Mitchell, allege that severe gastric illnesses contracted during package holidays to the West African archipelago have resulted in devastating consequences—including the deaths of at least eight Britons since January 2023.
The scale of the outbreak has alarmed families, legal experts, and public health officials alike. According to BBC News, those affected have suffered from a range of gastrointestinal infections, including E. coli, salmonella, shigella, and parasitic diseases such as cryptosporidium. The illnesses have not discriminated by age, with victims as young as six months old among those seeking redress.
Jatinder Paul, an international serious injury lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, told ITV News, “In all my years of doing this work, I have not seen a case this large and unfortunately so many that have died as a result of the illnesses.” He emphasized the gravity of the situation, noting that the firm continues to be contacted by “hundreds more people reporting all too familiar and worrying first-hand accounts of how their holidays have been ruined by serious illness.”
Since 2022, Tui has flown more than one million travelers to Cape Verde, a destination famed for its golden beaches and year-round sunshine. Yet, the dream of a relaxing getaway has turned into a nightmare for many. According to The Express, the number of claimants has surged steadily, with recent cases reported as little as two weeks before April 2026.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has also been drawn into the crisis, issuing official warnings in February 2026 after a spike in stomach bug reports from returning travelers. Their investigation found that, since October 2025, there have been 112 reported cases of shigella and 43 of salmonella directly linked to Cape Verde visits. The symptoms—diarrhea, stomach cramps, and fever—have been severe enough in some cases to require hospitalization, and, tragically, have led to fatalities.
Among the lives lost is Elena Walsh, a 64-year-old from Birmingham who died in August 2025. According to her son Sean, Elena became unwell while staying at the five-star RIU Cabo Verde resort. “Through the night, we were there with her trying to see if she’d pull out of it, but she just deteriorated,” Sean Walsh recounted to BBC Breakfast. “I just want people to not go there. Because, yes, people can go on holidays there and come back and be fine, but my mum didn’t. If people are willing to run that risk, then go for it, but I’d say to people: don’t.”
Other victims include Karen Pooley, 64, who died in October 2025 after falling ill at the Riu Funana resort on the island of Sal. According to ITV News, Pooley slipped on water leaking from a fridge while rushing to the bathroom and broke her leg. Despite being airlifted to Tenerife for urgent care, she died from multi-organ failure, sepsis, and cardio-respiratory arrest. Her daughter, Liz Pooley, told the BBC, “No family should go through this, no family should have to FaceTime their mum on a Friday night, and by the following Friday, organise a funeral.”
The crisis has not been limited to isolated incidents. Mark Ashley, 55, of Bedfordshire, became “violently ill and never recovered” after falling sick three days into his October 2025 holiday, according to his wife Emma. He died shortly after returning to the UK. The law firm representing the families has also identified other unnamed victims, including a retired firefighter from County Durham, a retired civil servant from Berkshire who died of a heart attack on her flight back to the UK, and Jane Pressley, 62, of Gainsborough, who died in January 2023.
Irwin Mitchell has been gathering evidence of poor hygiene and safety standards at certain Cape Verde hotels. As reported by BBC News and The Express, disturbing footage has surfaced showing what appears to be undercooked food, buffets swarmed by flies, and mold in guest rooms. The law firm asserts that these conditions contributed to the widespread illnesses. “They had a responsibility in taking our clients away on a package holiday which was not going to cause them any illness. Unfortunately, it was the opposite of that,” Jatinder Paul told BBC Breakfast.
Tui, for its part, has expressed condolences to the bereaved families and maintained that customer health and safety is its “highest priority.” In a statement to ITV News, a spokesperson said, “We have established procedures in place to support any customer who becomes unwell while on holiday, including access to appropriate medical care and assistance in resort. To provide that support, it is important that illness is reported to our teams while customers are in destination. Where this does not happen, it limits the assistance we are able to offer at the time.” The company also noted that it is investigating the claims but does not yet have access to the full Cape Verde health report, which remains unpublished.
The legal ramifications for Tui could be significant. Paul warned, “If we’re unable to resolve them amicably, we expect a judge in the High Court to make an order which would involve payment of millions of pounds worth of damages to our clients.” He also advised those affected not to accept early settlement offers from tour operators without understanding their full legal rights, cautioning that “the effects of gastric illness should never be downplayed as symptoms can lead to life-long and debilitating complications and even death.”
RIU Hotels and Resorts, the Spanish chain operating several resorts in Cape Verde, responded to the allegations by stating that guest health and safety are paramount and that their hotels adhere to “the strictest international health and hygiene standards, certified by external prestigious consultancy firms, specialised in health and safety.”
As the legal battle unfolds, the story has become a cautionary tale for travelers and the tourism industry alike. The sheer number of cases, the severity of the illnesses, and the tragic loss of life have shaken confidence in what was once considered a safe and idyllic holiday destination. With investigations ongoing and the possibility of further revelations, the outcome of this case may well set a precedent for how tour operators and hotels are held accountable for the welfare of their guests.
For now, the families affected by the Cape Verde outbreak are left seeking justice, answers, and, perhaps most of all, assurances that future travelers will not face the same risks.