More than 1,700 Brits who fell ill in Cape Verde join action against Tui

More than 1,700 people have now joined the legal action against travel company Tui after becoming ill while on holiday in the Cape Verde islands, lawyers have told the BBC.

Lawyers from Irwin Mitchell, who are leading the personal injury claim, say they have been contacted by people who became ill there as recently as two weeks ago.

Tui is investigating the claims and said it was "not in a position to provide a statement at this stage".

It said it did "not yet have access to the full Cape Verde health report, which remains unpublished".

Jatinder Paul, from Irwin Mitchell solicitors, told BBC Breakfast: "In all my years of doing this work, I have not seen a case this large and unfortunately so many that have died as a result of the illnesses.

"We are pursuing all of our cases against Tui. 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."

Paul added: "If we're unable to resolve them amicably we expect a judge in the High Court to make an order which would involve payment of millions of pounds worth of damages to our clients."

Irwin Mitchell solicitors said its clients had reported contracting gastric illnesses such as E coli, salmonella and shigella, and parasitic infections such as cryptosporidium. Those affected include children as young as six months old, it reported.

In February, an investigation by the UK Health Security Agency found that since October 2025, there had been 112 reported cases of shigella and 43 of salmonella linked to travel to Cape Verde.

Shigella and salmonella are gastrointestinal infections which can cause diarrhoea, stomach cramps and fever.

Cape Verde, a former Portuguese colony, is a popular holiday destination due to its golden beaches and year-round warm weather.

Since 2022, Tui has taken more than one million holidaymakers to Cape Verde.

Lawyers say they have been gathering evidence of issues at some hotels in the country. Footage seen by the BBC shows what appears to be undercooked food, buffets surrounded by flies and mould in rooms.

Elena Walsh and her family, from Birmingham, were among those who booked a package holiday to the island through Tui last year.

The 64-year-old had been staying at the five-star RIU Cabo Verde resort when she started to feel unwell on 8 August last year. Walsh was taken to hospital, where she died on 10 August.

Her son, Sean Walsh, said his mother had become ill very quickly.

"Through the night, we were there with her trying to see if she'd pull out of it, but she just deteriorated," he told BBC Breakfast.

He added: "I just want people to not go there. Because, yes people can go on holidays there and come back and be fine but my mum didn't.

"If people are willing to run that risk, then go for it but I'd say to people: don't."

RIU Hotels and Resorts said the health and safety of guests were its main priority, adding: "Our hotels in Cape Verde follow the strictest international health and hygiene standards, certified by external prestigious consultancy firms, specialised in health and safety."

Karen Pooley, from Lydney, died in October after travelling to Cape Verde for a two-week holiday booked through Tui.

She became unwell on 11 October with gastric symptoms - and while running to the bathroom to be sick the next day she slipped on water leaking from a fridge and broke her leg.

Pooley, 64, was airlifted from a clinic in Cape Verde to Tenerife on 16 October and died the next day from sepsis and multi-organ failure.

Liz Pooley, Karen's daughter, said she blamed Tui for her mother's death. She told the BBC: "No family should go through this, no family should have to FaceTime their mum on a Friday night, and by the following Friday, organise a funeral."

Tui said it provides support to any customers who become unwell while in resort, ensuring they have access to appropriate care and assistance.