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How Cape Verde horror bug 'killed 8' as more than 2,000 people join TUI legal action

More than 2,000 people have joined a personal injury claim against TUI after allegedly falling ill during Cape Verde holidays, with lawyers warning they will pursue the cases to trial

[Teenage Cape verdean boy jumping on the turquoise water]

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More than 2,000 people have joined a personal injury claim against TUI(Image: Shutterstock / Samuel Borges Photography)

A solicitor representing more than 2,000 individuals pursuing legal action against TUI over illness in Cape Verde has warned it could be the "tip of the iceberg".

More than 2,000 people joined a personal injury claim being brought against the German company after holidaymakers fell ill in the west African island chain. Solicitors from Irwin Mitchell said they were continuously being approached by people who reported developing gastric illnesses, including E coli, salmonella and shigella, and even parasitic infections such as cryptosporidium during Tui package holidays.

One of the solicitors spearheading the action has issued an urgent appeal to Tui as the travel firm faces the prospect of being ordered to pay out potentially millions of pounds.

Irwin Mitchell solicitor Jatinder Paul said the case was beyond anything he's previously worked on. He also warned that there could be more to come.

[Alisha Hussain on a sick bed]

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Alisha was left with diarrhoea and threw up blood, and rushed to A&E after returning to the UK(Image: Alisha Hussain)

[Alisha Hussain]

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Alisha Hussain paid for a 900-per-head holiday to Cape Verde with her friend - before falling ill(Image: Alisha Hussain)

Mr Paul told The Sun: "This could just be the tip of the iceberg. These are just the people that have contacted us. In all my years of doing this and thats about 20 years of representing people that have suffered serious injuries abroad Ive not come across a case such as this.

This litigation is on an absolute huge scale. Its not something that Ive ever seen before. He added: Weve heard over and over again meat being uncooked. Weve seen photographs of chicken that is quite clearly raw. Weve seen flies on food, considerable flies on food.

Mr Paul previously told the Mirror he would "implore" TUI to "come to the table". He warned that, if lawyers were unable to work with the travel operators, Irwin Mitchell would "fight these cases all the way through".

Mr Paul said: "TUI have denied liability in all of these cases. So, we are having to litigate these cases in the High Court. We would encourage, in fact, I would go as far as saying I would implore TUI to come to the table and work with us to resolve these cases amicably.

"Because if we can't do that, we will fight these cases all the way through a trial and seek an order from a judge." Mr Paul had earlier told BBC Breakfast that he had never "seen a case this large and unfortunately so many that have died as a result of the illnesses."

[Karen Pooley]

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Karen Pooley died from sepsis following a trip to Cape Verde(Image: PA)

He stated that the firm is "pursuing all of our cases against TUI", adding: "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."

Elena Walsh, a 64-year-old from Birmingham, Mark Ashley, 55, from Bedfordshire, and Karen Pooley, 64 from Gloucester, have all been identified as holidaymakers who passed away during visits to Cape Verde. A further two unnamed men in their 50s, who have yet to be identified, also died in 2025.

Two unnamed men in their 50s, one of whom was a retired firefighter from County Durham, also lost their lives in 2025. The additional two individuals believed to have died have not yet been named.

Mr Paul told the Mirror that some people who had travelled abroad with their loved ones were left to make the journey home, in certain instances, "with an empty seat". He said: ". He said: We represent eight families who have lost loved ones as a result of serious illness out there, and they're part of the group action.

[Elena Walsh, centre, with her husband and son]

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Elena Walsh, centre, with her husband and son. Ms Walsh died after becoming ill while on holiday in Cape Verde

He added: "This is not just about numbers, and absolutely it's huge numbers we're talking about, but these are people's lives that have been turned around. These are people's loved ones that have had to come back from Cape Verde in some cases with an empty seat."

Other holidaymakers were left severely ill, with Alisha Hussain, 21, from Rotherham, experiencing vomiting blood three days into her 900 per head holiday. She travelled to the archipelago on July 24, 2025, for a week-long getaway with a friend, but became sick with diarrhoea that worsened to vomiting blood and seizures.

Alisha told Irwin Mitchell that she lost consciousness and her friend was forced to seek assistance from hotel staff, with her blood sugar subsequently discovered to be dangerously low due to illness.

She headed straight to A&E upon her return to the UK, and stated she has been "left traumatised" by the ordeal, which ought to have been "enjoyable". She said: "I went on this holiday expecting to be safe and to have an enjoyable experience, but instead I became the most unwell I've ever been in my life.

[Cape Verde Image taken on Praia de Santa Maria]

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Cape Verde is well known for its stunning natural scenery and heat(Image: Getty Images)

"I was left vomiting blood, having seizures, and at one point I lost consciousness and was choking on my own vomit. My friend had to fight to get help from the hotel.

"The smell in our room was awful. Even though I complained it was never dealt with while the snack bar and dining hall were swarming with flies. Not only was my holiday ruined but I've been left traumatised. The hotel is marketed as a five-star resort but my experience of it was anything but that. I want answers but I also don't want anyone else to go through what I did."

TUI previously said that it would not discuss individual cases, but confirmed that the health and safety of customers "is always our highest priority". A spokesperson said: "We are deeply saddened by the reports of these tragic losses and extend our sincere condolences to the families affected.

"While we cannot comment on individual cases, customer health and safety is always our highest priority. 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.

"We continue to follow FCDO advice and engage with hotel partners and relevant authorities where appropriate."

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