“While the High Court in London sets the legal timetable for complaints from hundreds of tourists, the Cape Verdean government officially denies the existence of an outbreak and speaks of residual episodes.”
LONDON – Today, February 4, the British judicial system took the first formal step in the case pitting hundreds of tourists against travel giant TUI UK. At issue are serious allegations of poor hygiene and food safety at luxury resorts on the islands of Sal and Boavista, which resulted in severe bacterial infections and, tragically, loss of life.
The context of the health crisis
The dispute began in 2022, when the UK began to see an unusual increase in cases of Shigella sonnei among travelers returning from Cape Verde. What started as a group of 300 people centered around the Riu Palace Santa Maria hotel quickly escalated. Irwin Mitchell's lawyers currently represent more than 1,500 claimants who report deplorable conditions: food served at inappropriate temperatures, excessive flies in dining areas, and a lack of cleanliness in common areas. Among the most serious cases are six deaths of British citizens whose families associate their deaths with their stay on the islands.
This Wednesday's hearing
At today's hearing in the High Court, the focus was procedural. The presiding judge began to outline the trial schedule, setting dates for the exchange of medical evidence and reports from microbiology experts. TUI UK, while expressing regret for the customers affected, continues to deny direct legal liability, maintaining a strict defense stance that could prolong the outcome of the case.
Calendar and possible dates for the process
Although the final schedule depends on the complexity of the expert examination, estimates point to the following steps:
- First half of 2026: Completion of medical examinations and witness statements.
- Late 2026 / Early 2027: Start of the main trial, if no out-of-court settlement is reached.
Estimated compensation and reimbursements
Legal experts in London suggest that if TUI is found guilty of negligence, the compensation amounts could be record-breaking for the industry.
- Minor/Moderate Cases: Amounts between £3,000 and £10,000 (350 – 1,000 1,200 contos) to compensate for the ruined vacation and physical suffering.
- Serious cases (permanent damage): These can reach hundreds of thousands of pounds for victims with kidney failure or other sequelae.
- Death cases: Compensation can exceed the £1 million mark, depending on loss of income and family impact.
Who is TUI UK?
TUI UK is the British division of TUI Group, the world's largest leisure, travel, and tourism company. Headquartered in Germany, the company operates travel agencies, hotels, airlines, and cruise ships. In Cape Verde, TUI is the main strategic partner in the tourism sector, responsible for the largest volume of charter flights and all-inclusive packages that fuel the islands' economy.
Cape Verde's reaction
Cape Verde's Minister of Health, Jorge Figueiredo, came forward this week to refute the reports. According to the minister, "there is no epidemiological evidence to confirm an active outbreak" and British data does not identify the country as a significant source of recent cases. The government classifies the news as "alarmist" and stresses that, out of more than one million tourists annually, the reported cases are statistically insignificant.
Caboverde24.info
Source: High Court of Justice (UK), UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), and Cape Verde Ministry of Health.
Editorial Note: The statements published by family members and lawyers of the plaintiffs do not represent a final verdict of guilt against TUI or the hotels mentioned, as the final verdict rests with the court.
