Concerns are growing over a series of unexplained tourist deaths in Cape Verde, an island nation in the Atlantic Ocean off the west coast of Africa, after several families raised suspicions about a possible link to illness outbreaks during their holidays.
According to an investigation by the Sunday Times, four British tourists died between August and November of last year after developing gastrointestinal symptoms while staying at resorts in the island chain.
Cases linked to hotel stays and illness symptoms
The deceased include Elena Walsh, Karen Pooley, Mark Ashley, and a 52-year-old father of two from Chester whose name has not been publicly released. All had stayed in hotels operated by RIU Hotels & Resorts as part of package holidays booked through TUI Group.
Walsh and the unnamed man died in Cape Verde, Pooley passed away after being airlifted to Tenerife, and Ashley died several weeks after returning to the United Kingdom.
Since the initial cases, two additional families have instructed lawyers to investigate potential links between their relatives’ deaths and similar illness symptoms, raising the possible total to seven cases, although this has not been independently confirmed.
New case adds to concerns
A more recent case involves a 52-year-old retired firefighter from northeast England. His wife believes his illness may be connected after learning of previous deaths, noting that his symptoms were identical.
He developed diarrhoea, vomiting, and loss of appetite early during his holiday in August and never fully recovered. He died 11 weeks after returning home.
The couple had been staying at the Riu Palace Santa Maria hotel as part of a £6,500 package holiday. He was the only member of his group to fall ill, with symptoms beginning just days into the trip.
Rapid deterioration after returning home
Following their return to the UK, his condition worsened significantly, including severe digestive issues, weight loss, and abdominal swelling. He was later hospitalized, where fluid was drained from his abdomen. He died on 2 November.
His death came shortly before two others reported in the same period.
Doctors did not identify a clear cause of illness, and no post-mortem was conducted.
Possible bacterial link under investigation
Health authorities in Cape Verde, working alongside the World Health Organization, have identified the presence of the Shigella bacterium in water samples used for washing food.
The bacterium is known to spread through contaminated sewage and can cause fever, vomiting, and diarrhoea. Officials have collected 156 samples from water, food, kitchen surfaces, and hotel staff as part of an ongoing investigation.
Legal claims and ongoing uncertainty
More than 1,000 tourists have launched legal action claiming they fell ill while holidaying in Cape Verde, with hundreds of cases already before UK courts.
Hotel operator RIU Hotels & Resorts has expressed condolences to the families but says it maintains strict hygiene standards and had no reports of illness during the guest’s stay. Travel company TUI has not commented.
