Khaberni - An outbreak of dangerous intestinal bacteria in the Cape Verde Islands has resulted in the deaths of six British tourists recently, where thousands of visitors were exposed to this widespread bacterial infection on the island off the west coast of Africa.
Laboratory investigations confirmed that the victims were infected with "Shigella," a severe intestinal infection transmitted through contaminated food and water or direct contact.
Local hospital reviewers described the situation as a "war zone" due to the large influx of patients suffering from severe symptoms including diarrhea, vomiting, and fever, according to Metro newspaper.
Details of the recorded cases
A man named Mark Ashley, aged 55, died after suffering severe intestinal pain, diarrhea, and fever on the third day of his stay at the Riu Palace Santa Maria on Sal Island in October, collapsing weeks after his return to Britain and dying immediately upon hospital arrival.
The deaths also included 54-year-old Karen Pouli, who fell ill during her stay at the Riu Funana on Sal Island in the same month. The lady slipped on water inside the hotel causing her to break her leg, and her health deteriorated rapidly, leading to her death after 5 days in an intensive care unit in Tenerife, with the doctors recording the cause of death as multiple organ failure, septicemia, and cardiac arrest in addition to the fracture.
Testimonies of the affected and their relatives pointed to a lack of health safety standards inside some of the five-star rated resorts on Sal Island.
Victim's wife, a 55-year-old forklift driver, noted the hotel served "lukewarm" food, with poor hygiene levels and storage of drinking water under direct sunlight.
Class action and warnings from the island
In a collective move, more than 1500 British tourists have started legal actions against the travel company "TUI" after facing health problems of varying severity.
According to Jatinder Paul, the attorney representing the families, the recorded infection numbers are "staggering," indicating that each case represents a tragic story beyond just being an official statistic.
Meanwhile, the British Agency for Health Security noted that 80% of the recently recorded "Shigella" infections were among travelers returning from Cape Verde, prompting the Foreign Office to issue warnings to travelers about the existing health risks, especially for those with pre-existing health conditions that could exacerbate due to intestinal infections.
Immediate reactions
RIU Hotels group announced their commitment to cooperate with local authorities to improve public health standards, emphasizing plans for pest control and removal of stagnant water.
In addition, a spokesperson for "TUI" stated that the safety of clients remains a top priority, with ongoing investigations in cooperation with hotel partners and relevant health bodies to determine the causes of this recurring outbreak.
