Some 300 holidaymakers are suing holiday company TUI following an outbreak of illnesses at the 5-star Riu Palace Santa Maria Hotel in Cape Verde in 2022. While other hotels on the archipelago are concerned as well, the lawsuit against TUI is the first to reach court.
Improperly prepared food and drink, unhygienic swimming facilities, stray dogs, cockroaches, unhygienic rooms… The list of claims against the TUI’s 5-star Riu Palace Santa Maria Hotel in Cape Verde is long. And the results are seemingly very serious.
Some 300 people who stayed at the hotel in 2022 are taking action following an outbreak of stomach issues, which was allegedly caused by the circumstances they encountered at the hotel. The group action brought by the law firm Irwin Mitchell is seeking compensation payouts of some £5 million, as several people suffer from long-term issues caused by severe tummy bugs, and six people died during or shortly after their stay at the hotel.
“The claimants were all staying at the hotel on an all-inclusive basis, so that they all ate and drank exclusively – or in some cases predominantly – at the hotel during their time in Cape Verde before they became ill. Each of the claimants became ill with symptoms of gastric illness either during their stay at the hotel or shortly after their departure from the hotel. Each claimant claims damages for personal injury in respect of that illness, which each claimant will say was contracted at the hotel”, the claim documents state.
As the group action was presented before Judge Master Mark Gidden in the first week of February 2026, a six-week High Court trial was ordered to take place at the end of 2027. According to barrister Stephen Cottrell, 30 lead claimants – the symptoms of whom are representative of the greater group – will be giving evidence during that trial. One of those is Nicky Morley, who fell ill a day into her holiday and has been suffering from gastric issues ever since.
“Since the holiday, I’ve struggled to socialise or eat out with friends as I’m anxious about my bowel issues. My whole life has been affected”, Morley said.
🆕 Our latest data shows cases of #shigella and #salmonella linked to travel to #CapeVerde – a popular #winter sun destination
— UKHSA West Midlands (@UKHSA_WestMids) February 6, 2026
As #WestMidlands families prepare for #HalfTerm holidays – we share advice on how to avoid gastrointestinal infectionshttps://t.co/M9uAo27Ve8 pic.twitter.com/7CQDMzv8Ia
The first of many?
According to Jatinder Paul, international serious injury lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, the firm has been instructed by numerous holidaymakers to investigate serious illnesses linked to their stays in Cape Verde for years. The case against TUI will be the first to go before the courts and will be a major milestone in their clients’ quest for answers.
“Those holidaymakers in this group action suffered serious and debilitating illnesses. The impact of serious gastric illnesses should never be downplayed. They can lead to long-term health complications, and in some cases, can even prove fatal”, Paul stated.
Due to the high number of Shigella and Salmonella cases linked to stays on Cape Verde, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued an official warning. Travellers are advised to choose food that is freshly prepared, fully cooked, and served piping hot. Moreover, they should drink only bottled or boiled water, avoid ice in drinks, eat only fruit they peel themselves, and avoid salads that may not have been washed in safe water. According to the AKHSA, people with weakened immune systems should consider speaking to a healthcare professional for ‘stand-by’ antibiotic treatment prior to travel.
