Set off the coast of west Africa, the island nation of Cape Verde is hugely popular with holidaymakers in search of sunny, affordable beach breaks. It had a record-breaking year for tourism in 2023, attracting more than a million visitors — with British travellers dominating the international arrivals.
However, since 2022, severe outbreaks of gastric illness in some hotels have affected hundreds of travellers, with many needing medical treatment. Currently, 836 people are part of a High Court legal action against Tui, the tour operator they travelled to Cape Verde with, and eight hotels have been named in the suit. This action relates to holidays taken in 2022.
A spokesperson for Tui UK and Ireland said: “Our priority is to ensure customers have the best possible holiday experience, which is why we were very sorry to hear that these customers were ill during their holiday to Cape Verde. As this is now a legal matter, we are unable to comment any further at this time.”
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Riu Hotels & Resorts said: “The health and safety of our guests is our highest priority. That is why we adhere to strict health and safety protocols and comply with all applicable regulations. Additionally, we work closely with local health authorities to ensure a safe environment for both our guests and employees. As part of our proactive approach to preventing health issues, we conduct thorough internal and external audits on a regular basis.
“Our hotels in Cape Verde, which consist of six properties with a total of 4,650 rooms, maintain an average occupancy rate of over 80 per cent. Given this high level of activity, we continuously monitor our operations to uphold the highest health and safety standards.”
Meliá hotels has not responded to requests for comment.
In February 2025, the Foreign Office updated its guidance to warn about the limitations of medical facilities and support in Cape Verde, noting that healthcare is “very basic”.
If you’re planning a trip there, here’s what you should know.
How many hotels were affected?
In the High Court suit launched against Tui, and made public on March 17, 2025, eight different hotels were named. These are:
• Riu Palace Boavista — 57 people
• Riu Palace Santa Maria — 300 people
• Riu Funana — 183 people
• Riu Cabo Verde — 105 people
• Riu Touareg — 25 people
• Meliá Dunas — 70 people
• Tui Suneo Dunas (previously Sol Dunas) — 64 people
• Tui Blue Cabo Verde — 32 people
All 836 people had visited Cape Verde with Tui in 2022, staying in four and five-star hotels. According to Irwin Mitchell, the law firm representing the travellers, the High Court legal action was launched after “Tui UK Limited has failed to engage with the holidaymakers”.
The law firm also said it is currently representing more than 1,400 people in total who had fallen ill with illnesses linked to shigella, E. Coli, and salmonella after travelling to Cape Verde since 2022. Two other hotels — Riu Karamboa and Meliá Llana — were also named, although it’s not known how many people were affected.
Is the problem ongoing?
Law firms and international health agencies have been drawing attention to the issue of food poisoning in recent years. For example, Irwin Mitchell published case studies in late 2024 of several clients who travelled to Cape Verde between June and October 2024. Separately, a February 2023 risk assessment from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control revealed that there were over 200 shigella-related infections recorded between late 2021 and early 2023, affecting travellers from EU nations, the UK and the US who had returned from Cape Verde.
Are there any tactics to avoid getting ill on holiday?
Shigella, E. Coli, and salmonella are all bacteria typically ingested through contaminated food or drink, but they can also be passed on through person to person contact. Understanding this means you can minimise your chances of an infection in a few ways.
When it comes to food, be selective about what and where you eat. Check that anything you plan to consume looks and smells fresh, and is cooked properly and served at the right temperatures. While cooked food should be safe to eat, since temperatures over 74C kill bacteria, they can still be contaminated after cooking. So it’s best to avoid anything that’s been left out or is uncovered for an extended period of time.
For drinks, opt for pre-packaged where you can — such as bottled water, juices or mixers. Avoid ice or iced drinks unless you know it has been made from treated water. You should also brush your teeth with bottled water if you’re not sure whether the water in your hotel room is safe.
In the case of shigella in particular, Dr Bruno Silvester Lopes, lecturer in microbiology at Teesside University, suggests cleaning your hands “by washing them often with soap and water, especially before and after eating, cooking, using the bathroom, changing diapers, or caring for someone sick”. He adds: “Carrying a travel medicine kit with anti-diarrhoeal medication and electrolytes might also be useful.”
Will my insurance cover gastric illness?
You should always check the terms and conditions of your policy to see what is and isn’t covered. In general, though, travel insurance will cover medical expenses related to gastric illness while you’re on holiday. You may also be covered if you decide to curtail your trip early — but do check with your policy provider first and keep any receipts.
• Travel insurance guide: everything you need to know
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