Holidaymakers have been left enraged after major health scares in Cape Verde have caused confusion over whether or not it is safe to travel to the West African archipelago
Tourists have revealed their troubling experiences in Cape Verde after a spate of deaths
A major travel warning has been issued as six Brits have tragically died after going on holiday in Cape Verde. More than 150 people have become ill in recent months, dealing with horrifying stomach bugs that cause a range of symptoms, including fever, severe diarrhoea, and stomach cramps.
The UK health authorities have been investigating the sudden spate of illness and found that the outbreak of salmonella and shigella has been linked to travellers to Cape Verde – a popular destination for British holidaymakers looking for some winter sun. Now, terrified tourists have been plunged into chaos, unsure of whether or not to take the risk and travel to Cape Verde for their booked holidays, or potentially take a massive financial hit.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has found that of the 118 cases of shigella reported since 1 October, a staggering 95 percent of people had been to Cape Verde, particularly the Santa Maria and Boa Vista areas.
READ MORE: Holidaymakers told to drink bottled water after six Brits dieREAD MORE: ‘My wife went on TUI dream holiday to Cape Verde – now she’ll never come home’
Leading holiday company TUI has come under fire from holidaymakers over the ongoing nightmare, with comments flooding in on a public Facebook group about how the company has allegedly handled the health scare. One furious traveller claims that TUI “lied all through this,” alleging that the company had denied that anyone else had become unwell.
“TUI have lied all through this,” the seething customer claimed. “They told me when I was ill there were no other complaints, this is total rubbish!! I wasn’t the only one ill after 10 days, we had people much worse than me who were hospitalised & they denied it all !!!” It is unclear when the tourist visited Cape Verde, but they posted in the group four days ago.
Another holidaygoer posted that their digestive system has “never been the same again” after falling ill on holiday in Cape Verde back in August 2023, urgently warning other holidaymakers who might have planned trips there to rethink and avoid it altogether. “It was confirmed that the shellfish was carrying shigella from the sea and that’s how I got it – I have never been the same again with my digestive system”. They continued: “Be careful…the pools constantly being closed due to illness as well! It’s a toss up for risking it for sun or changing to somewhere you [know] you’ll be OK I [know] I won’t ever go again.”
Those posting in the group paint a grim picture of the conditions on their TUI holidays, with many criticising the holiday company for how they handle complaints. “I fell ill with Shigella in October and as far as I’m aware [TUI] have never admitted there was ever an issue,” claimed one customer. “I would advise against going. I’ve never felt so poorly or been so scared.”
The complaints about Cape Verde resorts go beyond illnesses. One poster claimed the hotel they stayed in was like a “war zone” and eventually they had to shell out £700 extra to move to a better facility. They claimed that TUI “didn’t want to listen to my legitimate concerns” and “wouldn’t help in any way”.
Insisting that “the hotel I originally booked should never have been advertised on their website,” they added: “I was in Sal and arrived home just 2 weeks ago. I wasn’t staying in a RUI resort. Yes, I too unfortunately got Shigella. Had multiple issues over the week I was there, TUI were less than helpful on their App, using the Complaints process (recommended by a Rep that was at the hotel!).
“This is the first holiday I have ever had where I felt so relieved and happy to be going home. Never Again!!” The holidaymaker added that they “wouldn’t recommend anyone going to Cape Verde at the moment and I won’t be going back, which is a shame as it does have its lovely parts and the people are friendly.”
Another tourist said that they managed to “dodge shigella” but the unhygienic conditions at their hotel were horrifying – with an “intermittent water supply” and “cockroaches EVERYWHERE!”. They wrote: “One of our party had a large cockroach sat on his shoulder as he was eating in the Italian a la carte restaurant”. They claimed that no one at the hotel could wash their hands properly as their was no running water, sewers were being “pumped out” right by the pool, adding that they “ will never go anywhere with TUI again.”
The new UKHSA study found local swimming pools, local water and poor sanitary conditions, as well as possible infection from hotel buffets and excursions, can increase the risk of infections like salmonella, shigella, giardia and cryptosporidium.
Terrifyingly, four of the Brits who died after travelling to Cape Verde all passed away within a four month period. Irwin Mitchell solicitors are representing the families of the six people who have died overall – and also over 1,500 people who have fallen ill after visits to holiday destination.
Elena Walsh, 64, from Birmingham, Mark Ashley, 55, of Bedfordshire, 64-year-old Karen Pooley, from Gloucestershire, and a 56-year-old man all died last year after contracting severe gastric illnesses while on the islands off the coast of west Africa.
Mark’s family have been left in “complete shock” by his death. His wife, Emma, 55, explained that she never thought when they headed on holiday that she would end up losing her husband. “We went to Cape Verde expecting a relaxing break, but Mark became violently ill and never recovered.”
Mark, a self-employed forklift truck driver, became unwell just three days into the trip to Cape Verde. The couple, who had been married for 26 years, stayed at the five‑star Riu Palace Santa Maria resort in Sal. Mark became extremely lethargic, and suffering from stomach pain, diarrhoea, vomiting, and fever, lawyers representing the family said. Emma – an early years assistant manager – said that their TUI holiday cost over £3,000 and she had raised concerns over the hotel’s hygiene.
Emma says that she reported that her husband had become very unwell via TUI’s app on 9 October. When they got home to Houghton Regis, Mark – who had diabetes – collapsed and was rushed to hospital on 12 November. Tragically, he was pronounced dead by the staff just minutes after.
Other tragedies include part-time nurse and mother-of-one Elena Walsh, who died in August 2025 after falling ill while staying at the Riu Cabo Verde resort on the same island.
And Karen Pooley, from Lydney, died after travelling with a friend to the Riu Funana resort in Sal on October 7, 2025. The fortnight’s holiday cost £3,000 and was booked through Tui, the law firm said. The retired mother-of-two became sick on October 11 with gastric symptoms including diarrhoea, and in the early hours of the next day she slipped on water leaking from a fridge while going to the bathroom.
She was transferred to a local clinic and over the next four days, Ms Pooley continued to experience diarrhoea and vomiting, alongside severe pain from her fractured femur. Deteriorating, the 64-year-old was airlifted to Tenerife for urgent care on October 16 and died in the early hours of 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.”
Irwin Mitchell said Karen’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, of Gainsborough, who died in January 2023 after falling ill while holidaying at Riu Palace Hotel in Santa Maria, Sal, the previous November, and a man in his 60s from Watford. He died in November 2024 after suffering gastric illness following a trip to Cape Verde, Irwin Mitchell said. Families of all six people are making personal injury claims for damages against Tui, the provider of many package holidays to the island country.
Now, the UKHSA has updated its travel advice on the Travel Health Pro website for Cape Verde. It urges people to choose food that is freshly prepared, fully cooked and served piping hot. In areas without a reliable clean water supply, drink only bottled or boiled water, including when brushing your teeth, and avoid ice in drinks, it added.
People are advised to only eat fruit they peel themselves and avoid salads that may not have been washed in safe water. Shigella is a gastrointestinal bug that can cause severe diarrhoea, fever and stomach cramps. It can be caught from contaminated food, water or surfaces. Salmonella is often caused by eating or handling contaminated food.
Tui did not respond to requests for comment.
