Alarm bells are ringing in the United Kingdom following the death of four British tourists who visited **Cape Verde**, while hundreds of reports of serious infections have flooded authorities. Families of the victims are issuing dramatic warnings to future travelers, emphasizing that violations of basic hygiene rules at the popular West African winter destination can have fatal consequences.
Tragic tourist deaths in Cape Verde intensify concerns
From October to December 2025, four British tourists lost their lives after falling ill during their stay on the islands off the coast of West Africa. In total, six people have died in the past two years, while lawyers report that more than 1,500 travelers have complained of illness after visiting the country. 64-year-old Karen Pooley from Gloucestershire is one of the most recent victims. The woman became seriously ill last October during her vacation and slipped in her hotel room, breaking her leg. After four days in a local clinic, she was urgently airlifted to Tenerife, where she died the next day. Her sister-in-law told Sky News that Karen “spent the final moments of her life suffering excruciating pain.” Devastated, she added: “We still can’t accept it. I feel anger and want to ensure no one else goes through the same ordeal.”
Dramatic appeal from victims’ families to tourists
Karen’s older brother emphasized: “Even one death is unacceptable. If the situation continues, how many more people will suffer? I call on everyone to think seriously before booking a trip to Cape Verde. Those who decide to go must do extensive research and ensure adequate insurance coverage.” The family is making an urgent appeal to all tourists planning to travel to the destination to seriously consider the health warnings issued by the UK’s competent health authority. Within the current week, an additional 200 tourists reported serious illness after their trip, bringing the total number of those pursuing legal action against tour operator TUI to 1,700 people. Lawyer Jatinder Paul from law firm Irwin Mitchell confirmed they continue to receive reports from travelers who became seriously ill after their holidays. “The testimonies about symptoms and how their holidays were destroyed are disturbingly similar. Gastrointestinal infections should never be underestimated, as they can cause permanent complications or even death,” he stressed.
UKHSA data on shigella and salmonella & expert recommendations
New epidemiological data from the UK Health Security Agency reveals that **shigella cases** are declining after the autumn outbreak. However, **salmonella cases** linked to Cape Verde continue to rise alarmingly. UKHSA lead epidemiologist Hannah Charles reported that 158 cases have been linked to the outbreak since October 2025. Of these, at least 112 involved people who had traveled to Cape Verde in the week before showing symptoms of illness. According to her, new cases are declining weekly, suggesting the outbreak may be subsiding. However, there is simultaneously an increase in salmonella infections related to travel in the region.
Experts are calling on travelers to exercise particular caution. “We do not recommend avoiding travel to Cape Verde,” Charles clarified. “However, it is our responsibility to inform about existing risks and ways to reduce them.”
Health authorities recommend:
- Consuming food that has just been cooked at high temperatures
- Avoiding salads, fruits, or raw vegetables that may have been washed with unsafe water
- Consuming exclusively bottled water
- Avoiding ice in drinks
- Thorough and frequent handwashing with soap
Responses from TUI and Cape Verde government
TUI did not respond to a recent request for comment. In previous statements, the company had said it thoroughly investigates all complaints and ensures that customers who become ill during their holidays receive necessary medical care and support. For its part, the Cape Verde government stated in an official announcement that the country remains one of the safest destinations in Africa regarding public health matters. It added that these are legal proceedings against private companies and that isolated complaints should not be used to undermine the image of the national health system and the country overall. Lawyer Paul called on tour operators and local authorities to take substantial and immediate measures to address hygiene issues on the islands, in order to prevent further tragedies.
