Cape Verde has issued a statement saying the country is ‘safe, reliable and prepared to welcome new visitors’ following increased reports of gastric illnesses.
Cape Verde’s Minister of Tourism and Transport José Luis Sá Nogueira refuted concerns about a Shigella outbreak in the holiday destination saying: “In the absence of official communication from competent international authorities in this regard, there is no declared shigella outbreak in Cape Verdean territory.”
The Minister went on to say: “It is equally important to emphasize that no country is completely immune to isolated public health incidents. What distinguishes responsible states is their capacity for vigilance, transparency, and cooperation.”
He added: “To visitors, investors, and all those who choose Cape Verde to live, invest, or enjoy leisure and personal fulfilment, we reaffirm a clear message of confidence: the country remains safe, prepared, and committed to high standards of quality and health protection.”
Last week, the UK Health Security Agency published findings from an investigation, which showed increases in Salmonella and Shigella cases among travellers to the destination.
Additionally, the first class action law case brough by law firm Irwin Mitchell, involving 300 holidaymakers who say they fill ill in Cape Verde, began in the High Court. All stayed at the same hotel in Cape Verde in summer 2022. All booked their holidays with TUI. TUI has denied responsibility.
In total, Irwin Mitchell is representing more than 1,500 British holidaymakers who have suffered gastric illness linked to holidays in Cape Verde since 2022, including the families of six Britons who died, four of them within the last few months.
TUI Group unveiled its Q1 results earlier this week and CEO Sebastian Ebel was asked about the rate of Salmonella and Shigella cases among travellers to the destination. He said the operator monitored the illness rate but ‘can only say that the average illness rates were below the market standard of people at home’.
