Home / Disasters and Accidents / Tragic Cape Verde Holidays: 6 Britons Dead Since 2023
Tragic Cape Verde Holidays: 6 Britons Dead Since 2023
1 Feb
Summary
- Four Britons died within four months from severe stomach bugs.
- Families of six deceased Britons are suing holiday provider Tui.
- Outbreaks of shigella and other gastric illnesses reported on islands.
Tragic incidents have marred recent holidays in Cape Verde, with four British citizens succumbing to severe stomach bugs in a four-month period last year. Their deaths are part of a broader pattern, as six Britons have reportedly died on the islands since January 2023. Investigations into these fatalities are ongoing.
Families of the deceased are now initiating personal injury claims against Tui, the primary tour operator for many package holidays to the Cape Verdean archipelago. Legal filings allege that Tui breached safety regulations by failing to provide adequate food, drink, and accommodation facilities, leading to illnesses such as E.coli, salmonella, and shigella.
The islands have seen a surge in shigella infections, a contagious bacterial illness causing severe diarrhoea and fever. Health officials across Europe have noted rising cases linked to travel from Cape Verde, with the UK Health Security Agency logging 137 cases between October and December 2025, 80% of which were connected to recent travel there.
